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
McMinnville
Opportunity
63 · Top 35%
vs54 · Bottom 45%
Growth
67 · Top 21%
vs68 · Top 19%
Climate
71 · Top 45%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
46 · Bottom 36%
vs49 · Bottom 42%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 36%
vs85 · Top 42%
Access
68 · Bottom 10%
vs73 · Bottom 15%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 20%
vs31 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Joplin | McMinnville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 52,593 | 13,844 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $52,097 | $47,179 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,024 | $25,507 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,381/sq mi | 1,252/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $168,300 | $182,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $962 | $791 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 53.4% | 49.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.9% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 11.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 20.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 257 | 75 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.9 | 5.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 11.7% | 19.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.6" | 54.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 56 mi | 47 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 27.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.5 | 37.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 2 | 9 | 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Joplin
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail, drought.
McMinnville
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Joplin
64
Your Score
65
Area Score
McMinnville
57
Your Score
58
Area Score
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Full profiles: Joplin, MO · McMinnville, TN · How this is calculated: methodology