Signals
Alexander City
Poplar Bluff
Growth
59 · Top 35%
vs46 · Bottom 44%
Climate
73 · Top 26%
vs75 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
29 · Bottom 19%
vs28 · Bottom 17%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs98 · Top 39%
Access
70 · Bottom 39%
vs64 · Bottom 28%
Economic stability
18 · Bottom 8%
vs19 · Bottom 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Alexander City | Poplar Bluff | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,938 | 42,020 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,356 | $49,089 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,762 | $27,431 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 57/sq mi | 60/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $158,500 | $145,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $765 | $780 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 76.1% | 64.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 15.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 20.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 250 | 58 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.1 | 1.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 19.6% | 222.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 29°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 52 mi | 58 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 21.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.6 | 39.5 | 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
Alexander City
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Poplar Bluff
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
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Alexander City
58
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Poplar Bluff
55
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Full profiles: Alexander City, AL Micro Area · Poplar Bluff, MO Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology