55008 and 55056 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
55008
55056
Opportunity
32 · Bottom 11%
vs39 · Bottom 19%
Growth
80 · Top 4%
vs64 · Top 26%
Climate
51 · Bottom 1%
vs50 · Bottom 1%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 45%
vs67 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
93 · Top 25%
vs95 · Top 21%
Schools
60 · Top 39%
vs53 · Top 49%
Access
71 · Bottom 12%
vs74 · Bottom 16%
Economic stability
66 · Top 37%
vs78 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | 55008 | 55056 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,729 | 14,753 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $84,513 | $95,679 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,930 | $46,415 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 167/sq mi | 148/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $290,700 | $331,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,325 | $1,314 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.7% | 85.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.4% | 20.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 6.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 241 | 88 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 23.4 | 7.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 391.8% | -6.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 4°F | 1°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.7" | 33.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 48 mi | 45 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.2 min | 32.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.1 | 41.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.32 | 17.58 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 51.5% | 52.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 59.0% | 51.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 34.1% | 30.0% | 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
55008
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
55056
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind.
Full profiles: 55008 — Cambridge, MN · 55056 — North Branch, MN · How this is calculated: methodology