28540 and 28546 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
28540
28546
Opportunity
30 · Bottom 8%
vs29 · Bottom 8%
Growth
59 · Top 34%
vs59 · Top 34%
Climate
80 · Top 18%
vs80 · Top 18%
Physical resilience
10 · Bottom 4%
vs10 · Bottom 4%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 30%
vs81 · Top 49%
Schools
61 · Top 38%
vs57 · Top 43%
Access
75 · Bottom 17%
vs77 · Bottom 18%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 31%
vs63 · Top 44%
Measured values
| Metric | 28540 | 28546 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,141 | 47,256 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,625 | $63,561 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,632 | $33,722 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 445/sq mi | 455/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $223,800 | $226,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,091 | $1,256 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.8% | 57.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 25.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 10.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 541 | 541 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.6 | 7.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 551.8% | 551.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 56.5" | 56.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 40 mi | 37 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 25.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 30.2 | 29.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 15 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.32 | 16.45 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 41.6% | 40.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 46.9% | 46.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 58.5% | 56.0% | 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
28540
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
28546
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 28540 — Jacksonville, NC · 28546 — Jacksonville, NC · How this is calculated: methodology