Atoka receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Atoka
Southaven
Opportunity
58 · Top 45%
vs55 · Bottom 48%
Growth
60 · Top 33%
vs41 · Bottom 34%
Climate
68 · Bottom 40%
vs68 · Bottom 40%
Physical resilience
59 · Top 50%
vs57 · Bottom 49%
Housing affordability
94 · Top 23%
vs90 · Top 31%
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
70 · Top 28%
vs58 · Bottom 46%
Measured values
| Metric | Atoka | Southaven | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,385 | 56,226 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $89,663 | $78,483 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,219 | $35,303 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 856/sq mi | 1,361/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $320,700 | $236,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,237 | $1,445 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 85.1% | 72.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.2% | 28.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 38 | 91 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.7 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -2.6% | -54.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 54.9" | 54.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.3 min | 25.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.1 | 36.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 1 | 10 | 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
Atoka
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Southaven
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Atoka, TN · Southaven, MS · How this is calculated: methodology