Ithaca receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Carson City
Ithaca
Opportunity
55 · Bottom 48%
vs52 · Bottom 43%
Growth
60 · Top 34%
vs56 · Top 40%
Climate
54 · Bottom 10%
vs54 · Bottom 10%
Physical resilience
22 · Bottom 11%
vs48 · Bottom 40%
Housing affordability
64 · Bottom 8%
vs78 · Bottom 19%
Access
90 · Top 24%
vs86 · Top 32%
Economic stability
71 · Top 24%
vs41 · Bottom 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Carson City | Ithaca | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 58,384 | 104,537 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,355 | $74,024 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,432 | $41,808 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 404/sq mi | 220/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $453,000 | $290,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,248 | $1,411 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.3% | 54.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 58.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 16.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 443 | 393 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.6 | 3.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.9% | -8.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 80°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 13°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 20.5" | 41.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 22 mi | 29 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 21.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.4 | 32.3 | 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
Carson City
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, wildfire.
Ithaca
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Carson City
60
Your Score
53
Area Score
Ithaca
59
Your Score
58
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Carson City, NV Metro Area · Ithaca, NY Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology