65203 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
65109
65203
Opportunity
80 · Top 8%
vs78 · Top 10%
Growth
44 · Bottom 41%
vs64 · Top 26%
Climate
71 · Top 45%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 36%
vs78 · Top 26%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs85 · Top 43%
Schools
56 · Top 44%
vs58 · Top 42%
Access
10 · Bottom 1%
vs7 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
67 · Top 35%
vs67 · Top 37%
Measured values
| Metric | 65109 | 65203 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 41,145 | 61,539 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $74,694 | $79,960 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,141 | $51,848 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 510/sq mi | 824/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $221,600 | $348,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $861 | $1,077 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.7% | 62.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.7% | 1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.3% | 64.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 24 | 700 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.6 | 5.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 9.1% | -25.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.7" | 41.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 104 mi | 110 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 19.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.6 | 35.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 17 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.15 | 14.81 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 36.3% | 38.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 46.8% | 51.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 51.9% | 29.9% | 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
65109
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
65203
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 65109 — Jefferson City, MO · 65203 — Columbia, MO · How this is calculated: methodology