30656 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
30656
30542
Opportunity
83 · Top 5%
vs85 · Top 3%
Growth
78 · Top 6%
vs73 · Top 12%
Climate
79 · Top 19%
vs80 · Top 18%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 38%
vs63 · Top 44%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 30%
vs83 · Top 45%
Schools
56 · Top 44%
vs61 · Top 37%
Access
73 · Bottom 14%
vs70 · Bottom 12%
Economic stability
70 · Top 31%
vs72 · Top 27%
Measured values
| Metric | 30656 | 30542 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,650 | 38,605 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $93,428 | $99,648 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,593 | $44,054 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 261/sq mi | 910/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $355,100 | $393,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,074 | $1,713 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 87.0% | 78.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.3% | 1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.5% | 31.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 7.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 90 | 172 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.8 | 15.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 150.0% | -8.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.7" | 52.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 44 mi | 48 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 35.6 min | 30.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.6 | 41.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.49 | 16.03 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 35.6% | 39.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 29.6% | 37.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 60.2% | 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
30656
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
30542
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 30656 — Monroe, GA · 30542 — Flowery Branch, GA · How this is calculated: methodology