24201 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
24201
17104
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 19%
vs38 · Bottom 18%
Growth
38 · Bottom 29%
vs38 · Bottom 31%
Climate
75 · Top 29%
vs70 · Top 49%
Physical resilience
74 · Top 30%
vs67 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 33%
vs84 · Top 43%
Access
91 · Bottom 43%
vs98 · Top 21%
Economic stability
27 · Bottom 6%
vs38 · Bottom 17%
Measured values
| Metric | 24201 | 17104 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,903 | 18,541 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $48,764 | $46,510 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,749 | $23,288 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,573/sq mi | 5,525/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $176,500 | $104,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $793 | $963 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.8% | 45.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 6.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | 2.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 17.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.9% | 29.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 14 | 9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 0.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 180.0% | 80.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.0" | 41.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 16 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 20.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.6 | 35.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.48 | 15.42 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
24201
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
17104
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 24201 — Bristol, VA · 17104 — Harrisburg, PA · How this is calculated: methodology