Gladstone receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Gladstone
Baldwin
Opportunity
78 · Top 10%
vs79 · Top 8%
Growth
36 · Bottom 26%
vs41 · Bottom 34%
Climate
66 · Bottom 36%
vs65 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 18%
vs81 · Top 22%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs94 · Top 43%
Economic stability
60 · Bottom 49%
vs60 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Gladstone | Baldwin | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,207 | 21,057 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $79,271 | $80,983 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,839 | $41,565 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,367/sq mi | 3,649/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $231,500 | $208,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,088 | $1,066 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.4% | 77.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.6% | 2.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.7% | 33.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 9.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2 | 9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 0.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 0.0% | 125.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 38.1" | 41.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 10 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 28.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.9 | 41.8 | 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
Gladstone
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Baldwin
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Gladstone, MO · Baldwin, PA · How this is calculated: methodology