97424 and 97051 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
97424
97051
Opportunity
43 · Bottom 26%
vs36 · Bottom 15%
Growth
31 · Bottom 19%
vs35 · Bottom 26%
Climate
73 · Top 39%
vs73 · Top 38%
Physical resilience
27 · Bottom 22%
vs32 · Bottom 26%
Housing affordability
81 · Top 49%
vs76 · Bottom 43%
Schools
11 · Bottom 2%
vs8 · Bottom 1%
Access
84 · Bottom 26%
vs80 · Bottom 22%
Economic stability
59 · Bottom 49%
vs55 · Bottom 41%
Measured values
| Metric | 97424 | 97051 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,357 | 17,347 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $79,688 | $85,869 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,358 | $37,847 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 75/sq mi | 302/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $372,500 | $412,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,111 | $1,410 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.6% | 64.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 6.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 18.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 9.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9 | 7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 0.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -93.7% | -12.5% | 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 | 47.6" | 42.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 27 mi | 26 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 32.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.6 | 41.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.69 | 18.44 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 11.7% | 7.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 65.5% | 70.7% | 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
97424
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
97051
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: 97424 — Cottage Grove, OR · 97051 — St. Helens, OR · How this is calculated: methodology