29680 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
27529
29680
Opportunity
83 · Top 4%
vs86 · Top 2%
Growth
78 · Top 6%
vs86 · Top 2%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs70 · Bottom 49%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 38%
vs64 · Top 44%
Housing affordability
81 · Top 48%
vs86 · Top 39%
Access
90 · Bottom 41%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
69 · Top 33%
vs75 · Top 21%
Measured values
| Metric | 27529 | 29680 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,242 | 35,770 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $85,716 | $86,716 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,070 | $40,850 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 957/sq mi | 1,231/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $355,500 | $305,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,464 | $1,545 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.1% | 78.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.5% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.1% | 40.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 8.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,158 | 226 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 33.6 | 8.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -20.4% | 79.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 47.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 25.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.3 | 36.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 2 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.46 | 17.22 | 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
27529
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
29680
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, earthquake.
Full profiles: 27529 — Garner, NC · 29680 — Simpsonville, SC · How this is calculated: methodology