29212 and 35802 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
29212
35802
Opportunity
67 · Top 26%
vs72 · Top 17%
Growth
90 · Top 1%
vs79 · Top 5%
Climate
72 · Top 44%
vs68 · Bottom 44%
Physical resilience
60 · Top 48%
vs50 · Bottom 43%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 38%
vs84 · Top 44%
Access
98 · Top 22%
vs95 · Top 38%
Economic stability
62 · Top 46%
vs66 · Top 37%
Measured values
| Metric | 29212 | 35802 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,657 | 23,858 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $77,142 | $76,324 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,969 | $57,864 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,292/sq mi | 1,453/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $247,000 | $334,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,452 | $1,154 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.9% | 54.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.6% | -1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.2% | 52.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 7.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3,198 | 2,108 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 22.9 | 9.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 106.6% | 87.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.2" | 54.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 19.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.8 | 40.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.79 | 17.87 | 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
29212
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake.
35802
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, inland flooding, earthquake.
Full profiles: 29212 — Columbia, SC · 35802 — Huntsville, AL · How this is calculated: methodology