Signals
Centralia
Madison
Growth
26 · Bottom 14%
vs27 · Bottom 15%
Climate
67 · Top 48%
vs73 · Top 27%
Physical resilience
57 · Top 48%
vs57 · Top 48%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 29%
Access
66 · Bottom 31%
vs76 · Top 50%
Economic stability
46 · Bottom 43%
vs49 · Bottom 47%
Measured values
| Metric | Centralia | Madison | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,000 | 32,998 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,240 | $64,577 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,825 | $33,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 65/sq mi | 91/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $103,000 | $194,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $794 | $890 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.7% | 71.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 19.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 12.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 15 | 61 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.4 | 1.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 25.0% | -30.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.9" | 51.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 62 mi | 45 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 24.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.5 | 41.8 | 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
Centralia
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, strong wind.
Madison
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Centralia, IL Micro Area · Madison, IN Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology