Brunswick-St. Simons and Decatur 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
Measured values
| Metric | Brunswick-St. Simons | Decatur | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 115,074 | 157,747 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,623 | $68,116 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,483 | $35,213 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 89/sq mi | 124/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $242,500 | $202,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,080 | $847 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.9% | 74.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.7% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 21.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 13.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 725 | 374 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.3 | 2.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -7.3% | 67.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 44°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.4" | 49.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 28.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.6 | 40.5 | 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
Brunswick-St. Simons
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire, coastal flooding.
Decatur
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Brunswick-St. Simons, GA Metro Area · Decatur, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology