55016 and 55128 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
55016
55128
Opportunity
50 · Bottom 40%
vs53 · Bottom 46%
Growth
82 · Top 3%
vs85 · Top 2%
Climate
55 · Bottom 5%
vs55 · Bottom 5%
Physical resilience
86 · Top 14%
vs86 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 12%
vs94 · Top 24%
Schools
45 · Bottom 42%
vs51 · Bottom 48%
Access
94 · Top 46%
vs94 · Top 46%
Economic stability
89 · Top 1%
vs78 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | 55016 | 55128 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,695 | 29,384 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $120,715 | $93,210 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,566 | $44,592 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,352/sq mi | 2,616/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $377,700 | $312,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,790 | $1,476 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 88.2% | 78.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.8% | 34.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.2% | 5.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 611 | 529 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 14.9 | 18.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 114.4% | 2684.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 9°F | 9°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.2" | 29.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 24.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.4 | 39.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.02 | 18.81 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 46.1% | 50.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 51.2% | 52.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 29.0% | 59.7% | 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
55016
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail.
55128
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail.
Full profiles: 55016 — Cottage Grove, MN · 55128 — Oakdale, MN · How this is calculated: methodology