Signals
Independent Hill
Gainesville
Opportunity
58 · Top 46%
vs58 · Top 46%
Climate
76 · Top 25%
vs74 · Top 31%
Physical resilience
71 · Top 34%
vs71 · Top 34%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 15%
vs88 · Top 37%
Access
90 · Bottom 42%
vs94 · Top 42%
Economic stability
87 · Top 1%
vs85 · Top 2%
Measured values
| Metric | Independent Hill | Gainesville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,853 | 18,196 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $204,886 | $174,410 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $65,651 | $63,896 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,218/sq mi | 1,799/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $674,300 | $712,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,295 | $2,283 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 96.1% | 83.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.0% | -3.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.5% | 58.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 1.5% | 4.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 28°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.0" | 43.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 46.0 min | 37.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 37.2 | 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.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Independent Hill
80
Your Score
—
Area Score
Gainesville
78
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Independent Hill, VA · Gainesville, VA · How this is calculated: methodology