Signals
Gainesville
Marshalltown
Growth
35 · Bottom 26%
vs25 · Bottom 13%
Climate
63 · Bottom 38%
vs56 · Bottom 14%
Physical resilience
48 · Bottom 39%
vs49 · Bottom 41%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 41%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
77 · Top 49%
vs74 · Bottom 45%
Economic stability
65 · Top 33%
vs79 · Top 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Gainesville | Marshalltown | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,046 | 40,114 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,932 | $73,315 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,914 | $33,544 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 49/sq mi | 70/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $240,400 | $145,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,047 | $885 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.8% | 75.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 22.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | 11.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 44 | 28 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 0.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -65.6% | -17.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 10°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.6" | 32.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 45 mi | 46 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 21.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.5 | 38.5 | 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
Gainesville
Elevated or high exposure: drought, hail, wildfire.
Marshalltown
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, cold wave.
Your best match
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Gainesville
64
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Area Score
Marshalltown
64
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Gainesville, TX Micro Area · Marshalltown, IA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology