62298 and 62236 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
62298
62236
Opportunity
76 · Top 13%
vs78 · Top 10%
Growth
54 · Top 44%
vs48 · Bottom 46%
Climate
72 · Top 41%
vs72 · Top 41%
Physical resilience
67 · Top 39%
vs65 · Top 43%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs100 · Top 9%
Schools
79 · Top 14%
vs70 · Top 26%
Access
82 · Bottom 24%
vs88 · Bottom 35%
Economic stability
76 · Top 19%
vs79 · Top 13%
Measured values
| Metric | 62298 | 62236 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,208 | 14,154 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $101,155 | $108,981 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $48,901 | $51,278 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 127/sq mi | 235/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $290,200 | $306,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $890 | $1,128 | 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 | 36.2% | 46.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.9% | 5.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 38 | 21 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.4 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 26.7% | 162.5% | 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 | 33 mi | 23 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 28.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.1 | 42.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.37 | 15.35 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 43.6% | 37.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 50.5% | 35.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 20.6% | 15.9% | 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
62298
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
62236
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 62298 — Waterloo, IL · 62236 — Columbia, IL · How this is calculated: methodology