36260 and 39705 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
36260
39705
Opportunity
37 · Bottom 17%
vs41 · Bottom 23%
Growth
38 · Bottom 31%
vs32 · Bottom 21%
Climate
77 · Top 23%
vs67 · Bottom 39%
Physical resilience
38 · Bottom 30%
vs46 · Bottom 36%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs93 · Top 25%
Access
77 · Bottom 18%
vs93 · Top 50%
Economic stability
33 · Bottom 12%
vs48 · Bottom 30%
Measured values
| Metric | 36260 | 39705 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,626 | 12,552 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,007 | $68,487 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,108 | $39,049 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 160/sq mi | 190/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $160,900 | $231,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $857 | $1,091 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 81.9% | 62.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 5.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -3.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 43.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 9.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 62 | 14 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.8 | 0.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -50.8% | -33.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 36°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 52.2" | 56.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 43 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 19.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.1 | 36.1 | 2024 ACS 5-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
36260
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, inland flooding.
39705
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Full profiles: 36260 — Oxford, AL · 39705 — Columbus, MS · How this is calculated: methodology