Beaumont-Port Arthur and Rocky Mount 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
Beaumont-Port Arthur
Rocky Mount
Opportunity
38 · Bottom 17%
vs24 · Bottom 4%
Growth
51 · Top 48%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Climate
76 · Top 16%
vs75 · Top 18%
Physical resilience
35 · Bottom 24%
vs43 · Bottom 34%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 48%
vs99 · Top 33%
Access
64 · Bottom 27%
vs73 · Bottom 44%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 21%
vs40 · Bottom 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Beaumont-Port Arthur | Rocky Mount | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 396,827 | 144,952 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,659 | $59,636 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,041 | $32,904 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 189/sq mi | 139/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $173,600 | $167,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,106 | $920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.2% | 62.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 20.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 15.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 918 | 498 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 3.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -7.6% | -12.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 44°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 62.1" | 44.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 64 mi | 43 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 25.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.7 | 41.6 | 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
Beaumont-Port Arthur
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Rocky Mount
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Beaumont-Port Arthur
56
Your Score
55
Area Score
Rocky Mount
57
Your Score
54
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Metro Area · Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology