30506 and 30542 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
30506
30542
Opportunity
83 · Top 5%
vs85 · Top 3%
Growth
71 · Top 14%
vs73 · Top 12%
Climate
80 · Top 18%
vs80 · Top 18%
Physical resilience
63 · Top 44%
vs63 · Top 44%
Housing affordability
89 · Top 35%
vs83 · Top 45%
Schools
69 · Top 28%
vs61 · Top 37%
Access
64 · Bottom 8%
vs70 · Bottom 12%
Economic stability
54 · Bottom 39%
vs72 · Top 27%
Measured values
| Metric | 30506 | 30542 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 45,612 | 38,605 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $97,413 | $99,648 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $52,071 | $44,054 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 454/sq mi | 910/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $390,500 | $393,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,371 | $1,713 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 84.0% | 78.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.2% | 1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.5% | 31.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.3% | 7.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 413 | 172 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 9.2 | 15.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.4% | -8.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 52.4" | 52.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 58 mi | 48 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.5 min | 30.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.1 | 41.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.18 | 16.03 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 43.3% | 39.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 41.5% | 37.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 47.1% | 43.9% | 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
30506
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
30542
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 30506 — Gainesville, GA · 30542 — Flowery Branch, GA · How this is calculated: methodology