35040 and 37148 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
35040
37148
Opportunity
66 · Top 28%
vs71 · Top 19%
Growth
78 · Top 7%
vs83 · Top 2%
Climate
74 · Top 34%
vs74 · Top 32%
Physical resilience
46 · Bottom 36%
vs52 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 27%
vs93 · Top 25%
Access
81 · Bottom 22%
vs82 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
75 · Top 20%
vs65 · Top 41%
Measured values
| Metric | 35040 | 37148 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,304 | 26,274 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $84,554 | $81,633 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,805 | $33,493 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 248/sq mi | 199/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $232,300 | $295,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,512 | $1,122 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 78.9% | 75.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.8% | 15.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 10.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 244 | 140 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 13.8 | 10.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 16.2% | 94.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 27°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 56.2" | 54.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 32 mi | 33 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 35.4 min | 32.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.3 | 37.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 8 | 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
35040
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, inland flooding, earthquake.
37148
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 35040 — Calera, AL · 37148 — Portland, TN · How this is calculated: methodology