Alton and Shreveport 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
Alton
Shreveport
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 11%
vs40 · Bottom 17%
Growth
37 · Bottom 27%
vs40 · Bottom 33%
Climate
71 · Top 50%
vs70 · Bottom 48%
Physical resilience
60 · Top 46%
vs67 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 25%
vs78 · Top 47%
Access
97 · Top 36%
vs97 · Top 36%
Economic stability
35 · Bottom 9%
vs30 · Bottom 5%
Measured values
| Metric | Alton | Shreveport | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,279 | 180,982 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $54,568 | $48,699 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,314 | $33,778 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,613/sq mi | 1,673/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $103,700 | $178,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,015 | $987 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.9% | 53.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 28.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 21.0% | 23.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 28 | 293 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 100.0% | 72.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.4" | 51.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 2 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 20.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 37.9 | 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
Alton
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, hail.
Shreveport
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail, drought.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Alton
61
Your Score
59
Area Score
Shreveport
60
Your Score
60
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Alton, IL · Shreveport, LA · How this is calculated: methodology