Dickinson receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Dickinson
Baytown
Opportunity
55 · Bottom 48%
vs37 · Bottom 13%
Growth
51 · Top 48%
vs44 · Bottom 39%
Climate
79 · Top 19%
vs75 · Top 27%
Physical resilience
59 · Top 49%
vs25 · Bottom 21%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs78 · Bottom 46%
Access
95 · Top 35%
vs93 · Top 45%
Economic stability
59 · Bottom 48%
vs47 · Bottom 28%
Measured values
| Metric | Dickinson | Baytown | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,753 | 85,205 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $91,779 | $59,910 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,439 | $29,957 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,183/sq mi | 2,104/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $278,000 | $197,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,231 | $1,307 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.8% | 52.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 7.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.4% | -0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 14.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 18.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 43 | 138 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.0 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -14.0% | -76.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 46°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 53.3" | 55.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 16 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 27.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.4 | 34.0 | 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
Dickinson
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Baytown
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Dickinson, TX · Baytown, TX · How this is calculated: methodology