Signals
Columbus
Tahlequah
Growth
37 · Bottom 29%
vs38 · Bottom 30%
Climate
69 · Top 40%
vs64 · Bottom 43%
Physical resilience
44 · Bottom 35%
vs36 · Bottom 25%
Housing affordability
92 · Bottom 43%
vs96 · Top 43%
Access
88 · Top 29%
vs74 · Bottom 45%
Economic stability
21 · Bottom 11%
vs23 · Bottom 13%
Measured values
| Metric | Columbus | Tahlequah | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 67,863 | 47,942 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $51,117 | $53,218 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,086 | $29,253 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 57/sq mi | 64/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $150,900 | $168,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $916 | $831 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.0% | 65.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 29.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.6% | 18.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 143 | 30 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 0.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 7.5% | -6.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 57.2" | 43.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 46 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 25.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.2 | 37.3 | 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
Columbus
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Tahlequah
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, drought.
Full profiles: Columbus, MS Micro Area · Tahlequah, OK Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology