Signals
Le Mars
McPherson
Growth
41 · Bottom 35%
vs64 · Top 28%
Climate
56 · Bottom 15%
vs61 · Bottom 30%
Physical resilience
70 · Top 29%
vs75 · Top 21%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
85 · Top 33%
vs67 · Bottom 33%
Economic stability
97 · Top 1%
vs85 · Top 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Le Mars | McPherson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,747 | 30,205 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $83,251 | $78,851 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,532 | $37,426 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 30/sq mi | 34/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $228,900 | $211,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $910 | $916 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.6% | 75.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 34.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 9.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 91 | 126 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.5 | 4.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -43.5% | 29.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 10°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.3" | 28.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 53 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 16.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.3 | 39.4 | 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
Le Mars
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, cold wave.
McPherson
Elevated or high exposure: hail, heat wave.
Full profiles: Le Mars, IA Micro Area · McPherson, KS Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology