Lynchburg and Dalton 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
Lynchburg
Dalton
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 36%
vs54 · Bottom 47%
Growth
47 · Bottom 44%
vs56 · Top 39%
Climate
75 · Top 20%
vs73 · Top 29%
Physical resilience
76 · Top 20%
vs58 · Top 47%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 49%
vs99 · Top 31%
Access
36 · Bottom 5%
vs48 · Bottom 11%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 49%
vs62 · Top 36%
Measured values
| Metric | Lynchburg | Dalton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 263,798 | 144,160 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,996 | $67,846 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,668 | $31,295 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 124/sq mi | 227/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $239,700 | $208,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $991 | $938 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.6% | 69.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | 0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 18.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 14.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 996 | 557 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.8 | 3.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -11.2% | 10.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.8" | 55.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 96 mi | 84 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 25.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.0 | 37.1 | 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
Lynchburg
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Dalton
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Lynchburg, VA Metro Area · Dalton, GA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology