Menasha receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Beaver Dam
Menasha
Opportunity
79 · Top 9%
vs71 · Top 21%
Growth
66 · Top 23%
vs71 · Top 15%
Climate
55 · Bottom 5%
vs57 · Bottom 8%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 5%
vs94 · Top 6%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
83 · Bottom 26%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
70 · Top 28%
vs66 · Top 38%
Measured values
| Metric | Beaver Dam | Menasha | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,565 | 18,273 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,673 | $64,698 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,703 | $36,055 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,231/sq mi | 3,023/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $201,900 | $191,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $959 | $903 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.3% | 64.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% | 2.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.0% | 0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 25.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 12.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 71 | 152 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.3 | 8.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 115.2% | 484.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 80°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 9°F | 11°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 36.3" | 30.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 34 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 22.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.1 | 37.6 | 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
Beaver Dam
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Menasha
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Beaver Dam
74
Your Score
75
Area Score
Menasha
80
Your Score
79
Area Score
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Full profiles: Beaver Dam, WI · Menasha, WI · How this is calculated: methodology