35653 and 35654 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
35653
35654
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 30%
vs47 · Bottom 33%
Growth
29 · Bottom 16%
vs29 · Bottom 16%
Climate
78 · Top 22%
vs78 · Top 22%
Physical resilience
54 · Bottom 46%
vs54 · Bottom 46%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs100 · Top 9%
Access
64 · Bottom 8%
vs72 · Bottom 13%
Economic stability
32 · Bottom 10%
vs33 · Bottom 12%
Measured values
| Metric | 35653 | 35654 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,481 | 8,749 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $52,600 | $60,674 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $26,438 | $25,859 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 77/sq mi | 59/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $122,300 | $172,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $694 | $689 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.9% | 68.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 11.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.3% | 17.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 8 | 8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 0.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -27.3% | -27.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 58.7" | 58.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 62 mi | 49 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 24.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.7 | 37.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 2 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.68 | 14.86 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 58.1% | 65.0% | 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
35653
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
35654
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 35653 — Russellville, AL · 35654 — Russellville, AL · How this is calculated: methodology