Gadsden receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Anniston-Oxford
Gadsden
Opportunity
24 · Bottom 4%
vs32 · Bottom 10%
Growth
21 · Bottom 10%
vs42 · Bottom 37%
Climate
78 · Top 8%
vs78 · Top 7%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 33%
vs41 · Bottom 30%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 28%
vs98 · Top 37%
Access
68 · Bottom 35%
vs69 · Bottom 37%
Economic stability
23 · Bottom 13%
vs22 · Bottom 12%
Measured values
| Metric | Anniston-Oxford | Gadsden | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 116,090 | 103,105 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $55,029 | $54,563 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,275 | $29,604 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 192/sq mi | 193/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $156,600 | $167,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $826 | $847 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.3% | 73.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -2.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 18.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | 16.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 116 | 123 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -32.6% | 21.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 52.1" | 57.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 55 mi | 53 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 27.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.3 | 41.7 | 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
Anniston-Oxford
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Gadsden
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Anniston-Oxford
51
Your Score
49
Area Score
Gadsden
55
Your Score
54
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Anniston-Oxford, AL Metro Area · Gadsden, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology