35404 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
37311
35404
Opportunity
37 · Bottom 16%
vs38 · Bottom 18%
Growth
60 · Top 33%
vs60 · Top 34%
Climate
73 · Top 39%
vs72 · Top 40%
Physical resilience
61 · Top 46%
vs59 · Top 49%
Housing affordability
67 · Bottom 31%
vs69 · Bottom 34%
Access
51 · Bottom 4%
vs72 · Bottom 14%
Economic stability
36 · Bottom 14%
vs32 · Bottom 10%
Measured values
| Metric | 37311 | 35404 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,720 | 22,445 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $47,153 | $48,932 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $26,309 | $28,483 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 613/sq mi | 1,348/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $226,800 | $197,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $932 | $1,072 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 46.6% | 43.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 30.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 24.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 433 | 429 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.9 | 3.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -33.4% | -2.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.0" | 57.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 71 mi | 49 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 25.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.9 | 29.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 6 | 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
37311
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
35404
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Full profiles: 37311 — Cleveland, TN · 35404 — Tuscaloosa, AL · How this is calculated: methodology