Carson City 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
Longview-Kelso
Opportunity
55 · Bottom 48%
vs40 · Bottom 20%
Growth
60 · Top 34%
vs45 · Bottom 42%
Climate
54 · Bottom 10%
vs74 · Top 24%
Physical resilience
22 · Bottom 11%
vs28 · Bottom 16%
Housing affordability
64 · Bottom 8%
vs74 · Bottom 16%
Access
90 · Top 24%
vs76 · Top 50%
Economic stability
71 · Top 24%
vs59 · Top 40%
Measured values
| Metric | Carson City | Longview-Kelso | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 58,384 | 112,360 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,355 | $76,531 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,432 | $38,105 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 404/sq mi | 98/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $453,000 | $397,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,248 | $1,206 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.3% | 68.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 17.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 12.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 443 | 252 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.6 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.9% | -4.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 80°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 22 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 27.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.4 | 41.5 | 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
Carson City
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, wildfire.
Longview-Kelso
Elevated or high exposure: volcanic activity, earthquake, 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
Longview-Kelso
57
Your Score
52
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Carson City, NV Metro Area · Longview-Kelso, WA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology