Signals
Baraboo
Pella
Growth
74 · Top 14%
vs80 · Top 6%
Climate
56 · Bottom 13%
vs58 · Bottom 19%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 42%
vs73 · Top 24%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 41%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
81 · Top 40%
vs82 · Top 38%
Economic stability
83 · Top 10%
vs87 · Top 6%
Measured values
| Metric | Baraboo | Pella | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,009 | 33,642 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $79,541 | $78,680 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,246 | $40,274 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 79/sq mi | 61/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $258,600 | $233,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,018 | $884 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.4% | 77.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.3% | 32.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 8.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 430 | 218 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 6.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 37.4% | 118.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 10°F | 13°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.1" | 36.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 36 mi | 33 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 22.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.9 | 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
Baraboo
Elevated or high exposure: hail, inland flooding.
Pella
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, heat wave.
Full profiles: Baraboo, WI Micro Area · Pella, IA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology