Joplin and Jonesboro 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
Joplin
Jonesboro
Opportunity
62 · Top 37%
vs60 · Top 41%
Growth
62 · Top 31%
vs75 · Top 11%
Climate
71 · Top 33%
vs70 · Top 36%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 32%
vs47 · Bottom 38%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs92 · Bottom 43%
Access
67 · Bottom 32%
vs77 · Top 49%
Economic stability
51 · Top 50%
vs40 · Bottom 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Joplin | Jonesboro | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 203,626 | 135,792 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,901 | $56,738 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,117 | $32,407 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 110/sq mi | 93/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $165,500 | $192,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $928 | $929 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.9% | 60.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.7% | 2.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 26.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 20.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 691 | 993 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.4 | 7.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -2.0% | -0.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.6" | 48.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 57 mi | 44 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 21.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.3 | 35.3 | 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.
Jonesboro
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Full profiles: Joplin, MO-KS Metro Area · Jonesboro, AR Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology