45044 and 45042 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
45044
45042
Opportunity
63 · Top 33%
vs59 · Top 42%
Growth
79 · Top 5%
vs79 · Top 5%
Climate
64 · Bottom 33%
vs68 · Bottom 44%
Physical resilience
78 · Top 26%
vs76 · Top 28%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 17%
vs100 · Top 9%
Schools
34 · Bottom 28%
vs34 · Bottom 28%
Access
86 · Bottom 30%
vs89 · Bottom 36%
Economic stability
55 · Bottom 42%
vs58 · Bottom 47%
Measured values
| Metric | 45044 | 45042 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,217 | 27,652 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,732 | $69,520 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,640 | $39,573 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,488/sq mi | 562/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $241,600 | $202,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,076 | $922 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.9% | 72.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.7% | 0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 21.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 11.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 387 | 387 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 7.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 360.7% | 360.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.4" | 41.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 31 mi | 26 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 26.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.8 | 41.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 20.66 | 16.71 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 43.4% | 39.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 48.8% | 42.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 27.0% | 62.8% | 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
45044
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
45042
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Full profiles: 45044 — Middletown, OH · 45042 — Middletown, OH · How this is calculated: methodology