Florence and Florence-Muscle Shoals 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
Measured values
| Metric | Florence | Florence-Muscle Shoals | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 199,675 | 153,852 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $54,443 | $61,891 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,571 | $35,173 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 147/sq mi | 122/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $170,800 | $187,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $934 | $853 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | 69.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.3% | -1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 26.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 14.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 990 | 370 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.0 | 2.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 22.2% | 21.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.3" | 57.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 60 mi | 55 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 26.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.8 | 41.6 | 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
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake.
Florence-Muscle Shoals
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Florence, SC Metro Area · Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology