Joplin receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Joplin
Jackson
Opportunity
62 · Top 37%
vs45 · Bottom 29%
Growth
62 · Top 31%
vs60 · Top 35%
Climate
71 · Top 33%
vs75 · Top 20%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 32%
vs58 · Top 47%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs96 · Top 45%
Access
67 · Bottom 32%
vs64 · Bottom 28%
Economic stability
51 · Top 50%
vs45 · Bottom 42%
Measured values
| Metric | Joplin | Jackson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 203,626 | 181,719 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,901 | $61,177 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,117 | $32,377 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 110/sq mi | 106/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $165,500 | $185,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $928 | $997 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.9% | 65.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.7% | -1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 23.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 16.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 691 | 476 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.4 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -2.0% | 13.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 29°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.6" | 53.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 57 mi | 61 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.3 | 38.8 | 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
Joplin
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, drought, cold wave.
Jackson
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Joplin, MO-KS Metro Area · Jackson, TN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology