45238 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
45238
50317
Opportunity
68 · Top 20%
vs65 · Top 29%
Growth
57 · Top 39%
vs44 · Bottom 39%
Climate
69 · Bottom 47%
vs59 · Bottom 10%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 10%
vs89 · Top 9%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 3%
vs95 · Top 9%
Access
99 · Top 24%
vs97 · Top 46%
Economic stability
64 · Top 37%
vs60 · Top 47%
Measured values
| Metric | 45238 | 50317 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,351 | 36,548 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,277 | $65,617 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,793 | $30,592 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,697/sq mi | 1,653/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $183,900 | $177,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $923 | $1,102 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.7% | 72.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.8% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 15.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 14.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 984 | 860 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 268.5% | -37.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 14°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.3" | 36.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 22.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.7 | 37.2 | 2024 ACS 5-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
45238
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
50317
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
Full profiles: 45238 — Cincinnati, OH · 50317 — Des Moines, IA · How this is calculated: methodology