Macon-Bibb County receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford
Macon-Bibb County
Opportunity
35 · Bottom 12%
vs55 · Bottom 49%
Growth
53 · Top 44%
vs48 · Bottom 47%
Climate
65 · Bottom 46%
vs75 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
71 · Top 27%
vs80 · Top 15%
Housing affordability
88 · Bottom 31%
vs91 · Bottom 40%
Access
47 · Bottom 11%
vs54 · Bottom 16%
Economic stability
22 · Bottom 12%
vs22 · Bottom 12%
Measured values
| Metric | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | Macon-Bibb County | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 181,664 | 234,943 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,839 | $59,526 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,750 | $33,652 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 125/sq mi | 136/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $240,900 | $188,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,104 | $1,044 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.9% | 61.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.1% | 1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.9% | 24.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.7% | 20.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 696 | 484 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.8 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 60.0% | -10.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 36°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.1" | 46.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 78 mi | 68 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 26.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.1 | 38.6 | 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.
Your best match
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Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford
55
Your Score
57
Area Score
Macon-Bibb County
61
Your Score
65
Area Score
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Full profiles: Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area · Macon-Bibb County, GA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology