97051 and 97424 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
97051
97424
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 15%
vs43 · Bottom 26%
Growth
35 · Bottom 26%
vs31 · Bottom 19%
Climate
73 · Top 38%
vs73 · Top 39%
Physical resilience
32 · Bottom 26%
vs27 · Bottom 22%
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 43%
vs81 · Top 49%
Schools
8 · Bottom 1%
vs11 · Bottom 2%
Access
80 · Bottom 22%
vs84 · Bottom 26%
Economic stability
55 · Bottom 41%
vs59 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | 97051 | 97424 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,347 | 18,357 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $85,869 | $79,688 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,847 | $35,358 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 302/sq mi | 75/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $412,100 | $372,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,410 | $1,111 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.5% | 69.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 6.0% | 5.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 21.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 8.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 7 | 9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.5 | 0.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -12.5% | -93.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.3" | 47.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 26 mi | 27 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 24.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.8 | 42.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.44 | 17.69 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 7.8% | 11.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 70.7% | 65.5% | 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
97051
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
97424
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: 97051 — St. Helens, OR · 97424 — Cottage Grove, OR · How this is calculated: methodology