Signals
Athens
Coldwater
Growth
49 · Top 50%
vs44 · Bottom 41%
Climate
70 · Top 39%
vs61 · Bottom 32%
Physical resilience
74 · Top 23%
vs73 · Top 24%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 49%
vs100 · Top 29%
Access
88 · Top 28%
vs88 · Top 29%
Economic stability
25 · Bottom 15%
vs28 · Bottom 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Athens | Coldwater | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 84,862 | 45,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,179 | $63,724 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,448 | $31,163 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 97/sq mi | 89/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $211,300 | $162,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,048 | $959 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.8% | 77.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 17.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 16.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 160 | 45 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -16.7% | 4.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 94°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.1" | 31.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 28 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 23.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.8 | 40.6 | 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
Athens
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Coldwater
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Full profiles: Athens, TX Micro Area · Coldwater, MI Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology