Signals
Elon
Graham
Opportunity
59 · Top 44%
vs47 · Bottom 31%
Climate
71 · Top 49%
vs71 · Top 49%
Physical resilience
61 · Top 48%
vs66 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
59 · Bottom 19%
vs76 · Bottom 42%
Schools
39 · Bottom 34%
vs27 · Bottom 20%
Access
86 · Bottom 30%
vs81 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
20 · Bottom 2%
vs47 · Bottom 27%
Measured values
| Metric | Elon | Graham | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,032 | 18,048 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $84,773 | $56,239 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,605 | $32,057 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,582/sq mi | 1,634/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $366,300 | $233,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,080 | $1,071 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.1% | 53.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.5% | 24.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.0% | 16.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.3" | 43.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 24 mi | 31 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 28.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 21.2 | 37.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.77 | 16.82 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 34.3% | 27.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 44.5% | 39.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 70.9% | 75.0% | 2024-25 school 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.
Full profiles: Elon, NC · Graham, NC · How this is calculated: methodology