Hartselle receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Clinton
Hartselle
Opportunity
61 · Top 39%
vs72 · Top 18%
Growth
69 · Top 19%
vs57 · Top 37%
Climate
76 · Top 25%
vs77 · Top 24%
Physical resilience
47 · Bottom 39%
vs49 · Bottom 42%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 15%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
87 · Bottom 35%
vs90 · Bottom 44%
Economic stability
54 · Bottom 38%
vs47 · Bottom 28%
Measured values
| Metric | Clinton | Hartselle | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,239 | 15,847 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,882 | $76,290 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,309 | $35,419 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 881/sq mi | 950/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $225,000 | $203,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $962 | $804 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.0% | 77.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 27.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 13.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 44 | 44 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.3 | 2.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 18.9% | -4.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.5" | 49.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 30.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.3 | 38.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 7 | 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: earthquake.
Hartselle
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Clinton, TN · Hartselle, AL · How this is calculated: methodology