Signals
Bellefontaine
Muscatine
Growth
47 · Bottom 46%
vs50 · Top 49%
Climate
63 · Bottom 40%
vs59 · Bottom 22%
Physical resilience
71 · Top 26%
vs74 · Top 23%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
80 · Top 44%
vs84 · Top 34%
Economic stability
52 · Top 49%
vs71 · Top 24%
Measured values
| Metric | Bellefontaine | Muscatine | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 46,089 | 42,559 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,551 | $69,396 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,989 | $35,349 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 101/sq mi | 97/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $203,200 | $182,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $845 | $971 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.6% | 73.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 23.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 13.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 135 | 128 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 3.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 1.5% | 42.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 15°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.8" | 35.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 41 mi | 32 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 20.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.9 | 39.6 | 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
Bellefontaine
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
Muscatine
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
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Bellefontaine
69
Your Score
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Area Score
Muscatine
73
Your Score
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Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Bellefontaine, OH Micro Area · Muscatine, IA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology