38242 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
38242
71753
Opportunity
48 · Bottom 35%
vs36 · Bottom 15%
Growth
45 · Bottom 42%
vs37 · Bottom 28%
Climate
75 · Top 30%
vs70 · Bottom 48%
Physical resilience
61 · Top 47%
vs52 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
89 · Top 33%
vs96 · Top 18%
Access
42 · Bottom 2%
vs55 · Bottom 5%
Economic stability
26 · Bottom 6%
vs23 · Bottom 4%
Measured values
| Metric | 38242 | 71753 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,293 | 15,474 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $47,938 | $50,504 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,294 | $26,416 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 110/sq mi | 50/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $173,600 | $167,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $782 | $637 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.1% | 65.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 5.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 21.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.7% | 21.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 16 | 12 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -15.8% | -40.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 27°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.0" | 52.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 93 mi | 65 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 20.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.4 | 32.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 5 | 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
38242
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
71753
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Full profiles: 38242 — Paris, TN · 71753 — Magnolia, AR · How this is calculated: methodology