37601 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
37601
72901
Opportunity
59 · Top 42%
vs54 · Bottom 48%
Growth
55 · Top 43%
vs54 · Top 43%
Climate
75 · Top 29%
vs63 · Bottom 26%
Physical resilience
64 · Top 43%
vs58 · Top 50%
Housing affordability
77 · Bottom 45%
vs86 · Top 39%
Access
94 · Top 45%
vs95 · Top 43%
Economic stability
41 · Bottom 20%
vs34 · Bottom 12%
Measured values
| Metric | 37601 | 72901 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,008 | 19,819 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $50,686 | $42,851 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,949 | $26,107 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 796/sq mi | 2,269/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $216,200 | $118,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $929 | $854 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.9% | 43.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.9% | 1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 19.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.0% | 26.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 273 | 359 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.8 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -60.2% | -10.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.0" | 47.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 3 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 18.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.7 | 35.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 10 | 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
37601
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
72901
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Full profiles: 37601 — Johnson City, TN · 72901 — Fort Smith, AR · How this is calculated: methodology