Signals
Garner
Smithfield
Opportunity: Garner is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
83 · Top 4%
vs69 · Top 24%
Climate: Smithfield is the more favorable of the two.
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs74 · Top 35%
Physical resilience: Garner is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
69 · Top 37%
vs63 · Top 45%
Housing affordability: Smithfield is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
70 · Bottom 34%
vs74 · Bottom 38%
Schools: Garner is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
35 · Bottom 29%
vs30 · Bottom 22%
Access: Garner is the more favorable of the two.
Access
93 · Top 46%
vs83 · Bottom 26%
Economic stability: Garner is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
63 · Top 44%
vs25 · Bottom 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Garner | Smithfield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,473 | 12,116 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,756 | $43,270 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,201 | $30,986 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,747/sq mi | 954/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $355,000 | $242,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,549 | $658 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.2% | 58.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.5% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.5% | 26.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | 27.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 52.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 16 mi | 35 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 27.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.7 | 44.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.46 | 15.81 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 33.2% | 27.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 38.7% | 40.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 81.8% | 99.0% | 2024-25 school 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
Garner
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Smithfield
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Garner
70
Your Score
70
Area Score
Smithfield
59
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Garner, NC · Smithfield, NC · How this is calculated: methodology