27520 and 27529 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
27520
27529
Opportunity
82 · Top 6%
vs83 · Top 4%
Growth
79 · Top 5%
vs78 · Top 6%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
63 · Top 44%
vs69 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
82 · Top 47%
vs81 · Top 48%
Schools
48 · Bottom 45%
vs42 · Bottom 38%
Access
88 · Bottom 36%
vs90 · Bottom 41%
Economic stability
80 · Top 12%
vs69 · Top 33%
Measured values
| Metric | 27520 | 27529 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,014 | 55,242 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $86,322 | $85,716 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,157 | $43,070 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 678/sq mi | 957/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $320,900 | $355,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,605 | $1,464 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.3% | 71.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.3% | 0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.4% | 40.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 9.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 390 | 1,158 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 13.3 | 33.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.4% | -20.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 46.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.9 min | 30.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.6 | 39.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 20.16 | 15.46 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 39.1% | 33.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 44.4% | 38.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 83.5% | 81.8% | 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
27520
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
27529
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 27520 — Clayton, NC · 27529 — Garner, NC · How this is calculated: methodology