Florence-Muscle Shoals and Cleveland receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Florence-Muscle Shoals
Cleveland
Opportunity
42 · Bottom 22%
vs41 · Bottom 22%
Growth
60 · Top 34%
vs59 · Top 36%
Climate
77 · Top 11%
vs73 · Top 29%
Physical resilience
53 · Bottom 47%
vs55 · Top 50%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 29%
vs91 · Bottom 40%
Access
62 · Bottom 25%
vs59 · Bottom 20%
Economic stability
41 · Bottom 36%
vs58 · Top 41%
Measured values
| Metric | Florence-Muscle Shoals | Cleveland | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 153,852 | 128,963 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,891 | $66,135 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,173 | $33,852 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 122/sq mi | 169/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $187,400 | $247,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $853 | $1,006 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.8% | 69.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 23.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 12.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 370 | 855 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.4 | 6.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 21.3% | -18.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 31°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 57.6" | 55.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 55 mi | 60 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 25.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.6 | 40.5 | 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
Florence-Muscle Shoals
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Cleveland
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Florence-Muscle Shoals
62
Your Score
62
Area Score
Cleveland
62
Your Score
61
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metro Area · Cleveland, TN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology