Signals
Emporia
Atchison
Growth
54 · Top 43%
vs46 · Bottom 43%
Climate
69 · Top 43%
vs65 · Bottom 46%
Physical resilience
58 · Top 47%
vs66 · Top 35%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
69 · Bottom 36%
vs86 · Top 32%
Economic stability
64 · Top 34%
vs52 · Top 48%
Measured values
| Metric | Emporia | Atchison | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,747 | 16,208 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,354 | $61,112 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,706 | $30,244 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 21/sq mi | 38/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $146,700 | $145,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $817 | $765 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.1% | 71.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 21.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 13.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 62 | 24 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 1.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 55.0% | 84.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.8" | 34.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 54 mi | 27 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 23.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.2 | 36.1 | 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
Emporia
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, tornado, heat wave.
Atchison
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, hail, tornado.
Full profiles: Emporia, KS Micro Area · Atchison, KS Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology