72206 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
37643
72206
Opportunity
50 · Bottom 40%
vs62 · Top 35%
Growth
49 · Bottom 47%
vs54 · Top 43%
Climate
75 · Top 29%
vs66 · Bottom 39%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 32%
vs44 · Bottom 34%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 15%
vs92 · Top 29%
Access
90 · Bottom 39%
vs90 · Bottom 41%
Economic stability
32 · Bottom 11%
vs20 · Bottom 3%
Measured values
| Metric | 37643 | 72206 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,120 | 22,667 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $51,831 | $52,132 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,936 | $28,489 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 260/sq mi | 203/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $166,600 | $142,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $732 | $943 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.8% | 70.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | 2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.4% | 22.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 23.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 27 | 628 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 3.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -22.9% | -35.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.0" | 50.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 17 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 46.0 | 40.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 13 | 11 | 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
37643
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
72206
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, inland flooding.
Full profiles: 37643 — Elizabethton, TN · 72206 — Little Rock, AR · How this is calculated: methodology