Signals
Detroit Lakes
Vernal
Growth
61 · Top 32%
vs81 · Top 5%
Climate
49 · Bottom 2%
vs53 · Bottom 6%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 6%
vs74 · Top 23%
Housing affordability
88 · Bottom 32%
vs88 · Bottom 33%
Access
65 · Bottom 29%
vs54 · Bottom 15%
Economic stability
43 · Bottom 39%
vs57 · Top 42%
Measured values
| Metric | Detroit Lakes | Vernal | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 35,343 | 37,056 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,388 | $73,746 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,842 | $31,623 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 27/sq mi | 8/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $291,000 | $298,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $920 | $941 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.2% | 73.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 16.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 11.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 168 | 158 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.8 | 4.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 7.0% | 51.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 79°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | -4°F | 10°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 51 mi | 74 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 21.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.5 | 33.2 | 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
Detroit Lakes
Elevated or high exposure: winter weather, tornado, strong wind.
Vernal
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.
Your best match
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Detroit Lakes
65
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Area Score
Vernal
68
Your Score
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Detroit Lakes, MN Micro Area · Vernal, UT Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology