Mexico receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Kirksville
Mexico
Opportunity
27 · Bottom 4%
vs36 · Bottom 12%
Growth
32 · Bottom 20%
vs43 · Bottom 37%
Climate
61 · Bottom 18%
vs66 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
73 · Top 33%
vs66 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 13%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
40 · Bottom 36%
vs38 · Bottom 33%
Access
7 · Bottom 1%
vs46 · Bottom 3%
Economic stability
20 · Bottom 2%
vs37 · Bottom 13%
Measured values
| Metric | Kirksville | Mexico | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,563 | 11,477 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $50,071 | $50,873 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,582 | $28,002 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,221/sq mi | 943/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $153,900 | $139,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $775 | $686 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 48.3% | 62.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -2.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.3% | 17.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 28.2% | 17.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 10 | 28 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.6 | 2.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 11.1% | -3.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.3" | 43.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 108 mi | 86 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 14.3 min | 20.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 24.8 | 37.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.43 | 13.72 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 27.2% | 31.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 45.3% | 37.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 47.7% | 84.2% | 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
Kirksville
Elevated or high exposure: cold wave.
Mexico
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, cold wave.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Kirksville
45
Your Score
50
Area Score
Mexico
54
Your Score
55
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Kirksville, MO · Mexico, MO · How this is calculated: methodology