46516 and 46517 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
46516
46517
Opportunity
51 · Bottom 41%
vs50 · Bottom 40%
Growth
67 · Top 20%
vs67 · Top 20%
Climate
62 · Bottom 20%
vs62 · Bottom 20%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 17%
vs84 · Top 17%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 28%
vs94 · Top 22%
Schools
32 · Bottom 25%
vs36 · Bottom 30%
Access
92 · Bottom 48%
vs93 · Top 47%
Economic stability
43 · Bottom 23%
vs39 · Bottom 18%
Measured values
| Metric | 46516 | 46517 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 31,871 | 25,433 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $56,492 | $56,772 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,779 | $29,231 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,821/sq mi | 689/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $153,400 | $177,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,016 | $938 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.7% | 63.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.3% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 15.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 16.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 313 | 313 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.8 | 5.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 114.4% | 114.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.6" | 34.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 21.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.7 | 37.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 12 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.82 | 16.31 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 28.3% | 25.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 24.3% | 32.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 50.5% | 56.5% | 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.
Full profiles: 46516 — Elkhart, IN · 46517 — Elkhart, IN · How this is calculated: methodology