43235 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
78744
43235
Opportunity
79 · Top 7%
vs84 · Top 3%
Growth
63 · Top 26%
vs64 · Top 21%
Climate
68 · Bottom 40%
vs64 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
75 · Top 22%
vs77 · Top 21%
Housing affordability
72 · Top 46%
vs78 · Top 36%
Access
95 · Bottom 33%
vs98 · Top 30%
Economic stability
70 · Top 27%
vs72 · Top 22%
Measured values
| Metric | 78744 | 43235 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 50,986 | 44,589 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $83,002 | $86,666 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,086 | $52,867 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,256/sq mi | 3,151/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $357,500 | $383,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,647 | $1,477 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.0% | 50.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.6% | 57.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 10.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 7,547 | 6,848 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.8 | 7.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -4.6% | -21.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.6" | 35.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 3 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 22.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.2 | 37.4 | 2024 ACS 5-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
78744
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
43235
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 78744 — Austin, TX · 43235 — Columbus, OH · How this is calculated: methodology