Signals
Coldwater
Athens
Growth
44 · Bottom 41%
vs49 · Top 50%
Climate
61 · Bottom 32%
vs70 · Top 39%
Physical resilience
73 · Top 24%
vs74 · Top 23%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 29%
vs94 · Bottom 49%
Access
88 · Top 29%
vs88 · Top 28%
Economic stability
28 · Bottom 18%
vs25 · Bottom 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Coldwater | Athens | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 45,300 | 84,862 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,724 | $65,179 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,163 | $34,448 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 89/sq mi | 97/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $162,500 | $211,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $959 | $1,048 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.7% | 77.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 20.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.4% | 14.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 45 | 160 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 4.7% | -16.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 31.5" | 42.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 28 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 30.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.6 | 43.8 | 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
Coldwater
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Athens
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Coldwater, MI Micro Area · Athens, TX Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology