Compare

Hazelwood vs Lake Station

Which is the better fit for you?

Hazelwood, MO
56
Area Score
Bottom 32% nationally
Lake Station, IN
56
Area Score
Bottom 33% nationally

Hazelwood and Lake Station 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

Hazelwood
Lake Station
Opportunity
53 · Bottom 43%
vs
48 · Bottom 34%
Growth
16 · Bottom 5%
vs
25 · Bottom 12%
Climate
68 · Bottom 39%
vs
62 · Bottom 20%
Physical resilience
67 · Top 41%
vs
81 · Top 23%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 26%
vs
89 · Top 33%
Schools
22 · Bottom 13%
vs
13 · Bottom 4%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs
97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
52 · Bottom 34%
vs
50 · Bottom 32%

Measured values

MetricHazelwoodLake StationSource period
Population25,11413,1852024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$55,908$59,5912024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$33,332$26,8962024 ACS 5-Year
Population density1,566/sq mi1,590/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$167,400$137,4002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$996$1,1242024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate59.1%72.0%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate4.5%4.7%June 2026
Employment change (year over year)0.2%0.3%June 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher28.9%7.4%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate15.9%15.4%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)1012 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents0.00.012 months ending July 2026
Average July high90°F85°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low24°F18°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation41.7"33.4"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport3 mi9 miNASR current cycle
Average commute26.6 min29.0 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age38.433.52024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools942024-25 school year
Students per teacher16.7616.822024-25 school year
Math proficiency15.5%19.1%2019-20 school year
Reading proficiency38.3%23.2%2019-20 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility97.1%77.8%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.

Missouri and Indiana do not give the same test. Each state writes its own assessment and sets its own passing score, so the two proficiency rows above are not directly comparable — the difference between them partly measures which standard is harder. Students per teacher and the school count are unaffected, and each profile ranks its own proficiency within its own state.

Physical risk tradeoff

Hazelwood

Elevated or high exposure: hail.

Lake Station

No hazard reaches elevated exposure.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

Hazelwood
58
Your Score
56
Area Score
Lake Station
58
Your Score
56
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: Hazelwood, MO · Lake Station, IN · How this is calculated: methodology

Hazelwood vs Lake Station: Location Comparison | AreaProfile