Dalton receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Dalton
Roanoke
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 47%
vs49 · Bottom 35%
Growth
56 · Top 39%
vs37 · Bottom 29%
Climate
73 · Top 29%
vs77 · Top 13%
Physical resilience
58 · Top 47%
vs72 · Top 25%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 31%
vs92 · Bottom 43%
Access
48 · Bottom 11%
vs45 · Bottom 9%
Economic stability
62 · Top 36%
vs55 · Top 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Dalton | Roanoke | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 144,160 | 314,986 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,846 | $68,761 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,295 | $40,698 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 227/sq mi | 169/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $208,800 | $251,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $938 | $1,043 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.0% | 68.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.8% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 31.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 11.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 557 | 994 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.9 | 3.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 10.7% | -23.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 29°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.0" | 42.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 84 mi | 82 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 24.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.1 | 42.8 | 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
Dalton
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Roanoke
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Dalton, GA Metro Area · Roanoke, VA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology