36832 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
29631
36832
Opportunity
67 · Top 26%
vs66 · Top 27%
Growth
76 · Top 8%
vs78 · Top 6%
Climate
79 · Top 18%
vs84 · Top 10%
Physical resilience
63 · Top 45%
vs71 · Top 35%
Housing affordability
41 · Bottom 6%
vs43 · Bottom 7%
Access
85 · Bottom 28%
vs72 · Bottom 14%
Economic stability
24 · Bottom 4%
vs25 · Bottom 5%
Measured values
| Metric | 29631 | 36832 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,849 | 30,959 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $48,800 | $42,717 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,954 | $28,403 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,934/sq mi | 455/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $400,400 | $263,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,053 | $1,084 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 40.8% | 50.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 3.9% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.2% | 49.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 37.1% | 34.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 267 | 1,040 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 14.8 | 12.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 14.1% | 8.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 49.0" | 56.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 26 mi | 51 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 20.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 23.0 | 23.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 1 | 2 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.70 | 17.07 | 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
29631
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, cold wave, earthquake.
36832
Elevated or high exposure: lightning.
Full profiles: 29631 — Clemson, SC · 36832 — Auburn, AL · How this is calculated: methodology