Signals
Fairmont
Great Bend
Growth
16 · Bottom 6%
vs10 · Bottom 4%
Climate
53 · Bottom 7%
vs60 · Bottom 27%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 14%
vs72 · Top 26%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
11 · Bottom 4%
vs38 · Bottom 5%
Economic stability
63 · Top 35%
vs45 · Bottom 42%
Measured values
| Metric | Fairmont | Great Bend | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,780 | 25,097 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,507 | $58,851 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,332 | $34,350 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 28/sq mi | 28/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $163,500 | $126,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $761 | $761 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.9% | 65.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 21.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 15.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 15 | 9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 0.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -16.7% | -25.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 7°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.3" | 24.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 103 mi | 93 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 16.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.9 | 38.8 | 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
Fairmont
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind, tornado.
Great Bend
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind, heat wave.
Your best match
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Fairmont
54
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Area Score
Great Bend
54
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Full profiles: Fairmont, MN Micro Area · Great Bend, KS Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology