Signals
Emporia
Lebanon
Growth
54 · Top 43%
vs49 · Bottom 49%
Climate
69 · Top 43%
vs72 · Top 32%
Physical resilience
58 · Top 47%
vs51 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs98 · Top 38%
Access
69 · Bottom 36%
vs64 · Bottom 27%
Economic stability
64 · Top 34%
vs43 · Bottom 39%
Measured values
| Metric | Emporia | Lebanon | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,747 | 36,390 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,354 | $53,282 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,706 | $29,076 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 21/sq mi | 48/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $146,700 | $168,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $817 | $809 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.1% | 68.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 16.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 18.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 62 | 56 | 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% | 14.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.8" | 45.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 54 mi | 52 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 22.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.2 | 39.2 | 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
Emporia
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, tornado, heat wave.
Lebanon
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, earthquake, tornado.
Full profiles: Emporia, KS Micro Area · Lebanon, MO Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology