Signals
Hershey
Bastrop
Opportunity
75 · Top 13%
vs70 · Top 22%
Climate
69 · Bottom 45%
vs68 · Bottom 40%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 36%
vs63 · Top 45%
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 43%
vs79 · Bottom 48%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs89 · Bottom 40%
Economic stability
53 · Bottom 36%
vs73 · Top 23%
Measured values
| Metric | Hershey | Bastrop | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,242 | 11,156 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,587 | $81,551 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,882 | $41,634 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 996/sq mi | 1,209/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $379,200 | $339,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,268 | $1,443 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 53.7% | 56.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.7% | 0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.2% | 35.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 7.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 87°F | 96°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.2" | 35.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 22 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 33.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.2 | 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
Hershey
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Bastrop
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Hershey, PA · Bastrop, TX · How this is calculated: methodology