62236 and 62298 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
62236
62298
Opportunity
78 · Top 10%
vs76 · Top 13%
Growth
48 · Bottom 46%
vs54 · Top 44%
Climate
72 · Top 41%
vs72 · Top 41%
Physical resilience
65 · Top 43%
vs67 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs100 · Top 9%
Schools
70 · Top 26%
vs79 · Top 14%
Access
88 · Bottom 35%
vs82 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
79 · Top 13%
vs76 · Top 19%
Measured values
| Metric | 62236 | 62298 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,154 | 18,208 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $108,981 | $101,155 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $51,278 | $48,901 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 235/sq mi | 127/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $306,600 | $290,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,128 | $890 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 85.3% | 85.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% | 3.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.0% | -0.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.7% | 36.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.6% | 4.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 21 | 38 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 3.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 162.5% | 26.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.8" | 40.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 23 mi | 33 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 31.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.3 | 44.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.35 | 16.37 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 37.9% | 43.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 35.8% | 50.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 15.9% | 20.6% | 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
62236
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
62298
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 62236 — Columbia, IL · 62298 — Waterloo, IL · How this is calculated: methodology