29680 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
29680
27529
Opportunity
86 · Top 2%
vs83 · Top 4%
Growth
86 · Top 2%
vs78 · Top 6%
Climate
70 · Bottom 49%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
64 · Top 44%
vs69 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
86 · Top 39%
vs81 · Top 48%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs90 · Bottom 41%
Economic stability
75 · Top 21%
vs69 · Top 33%
Measured values
| Metric | 29680 | 27529 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 35,770 | 55,242 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $86,716 | $85,716 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,850 | $43,070 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,231/sq mi | 957/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $305,400 | $355,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,545 | $1,464 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 78.3% | 71.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 4.0% | 0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.2% | 40.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 9.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 226 | 1,158 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.6 | 33.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 79.4% | -20.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.0" | 46.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 30.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.6 | 39.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 2 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.22 | 15.46 | 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
29680
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, earthquake.
27529
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 29680 — Simpsonville, SC · 27529 — Garner, NC · How this is calculated: methodology