Clinton and Ridgeland 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
Clinton
Ridgeland
Opportunity: Ridgeland is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
65 · Top 31%
vs66 · Top 30%
Growth: Ridgeland is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
44 · Bottom 39%
vs59 · Top 34%
Climate
73 · Top 38%
vs73 · Top 38%
Physical resilience: Ridgeland is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
35 · Bottom 27%
vs65 · Top 43%
Housing affordability: Clinton is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs72 · Bottom 37%
Schools: Clinton is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
78 · Top 16%
vs46 · Bottom 42%
Access: Ridgeland is the more favorable of the two.
Access
91 · Bottom 47%
vs95 · Top 40%
Economic stability: Ridgeland is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
56 · Bottom 42%
vs66 · Top 38%
Measured values
| Metric | Clinton | Ridgeland | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,195 | 24,587 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $74,745 | $66,038 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,526 | $51,065 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 650/sq mi | 936/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $225,800 | $275,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,118 | $1,336 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.4% | 47.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.8% | 51.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 9.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 38 | 47 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.4 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 46.2% | 104.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.3" | 51.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 16 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 22.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.3 | 35.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.94 | 12.94 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 56.3% | 29.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 51.4% | 37.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 48.5% | 74.6% | 2024-25 school 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
Clinton
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, strong wind.
Ridgeland
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Full profiles: Clinton, MS · Ridgeland, MS · How this is calculated: methodology