Boaz receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Manchester
Boaz
Opportunity
55 · Bottom 48%
vs55 · Bottom 48%
Growth
56 · Top 40%
vs62 · Top 30%
Climate
75 · Top 28%
vs78 · Top 20%
Physical resilience
57 · Bottom 48%
vs47 · Bottom 39%
Housing affordability
82 · Top 48%
vs89 · Top 34%
Access
74 · Bottom 16%
vs71 · Bottom 13%
Economic stability
56 · Bottom 41%
vs40 · Bottom 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Manchester | Boaz | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,944 | 10,814 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,500 | $49,846 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,122 | $24,915 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 844/sq mi | 743/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $237,400 | $199,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $978 | $663 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.5% | 66.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.9% | -1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 15.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | 19.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 64 | 24 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.9 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -38.5% | -4.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 59.3" | 57.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 45 mi | 47 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 23.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.6 | 32.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 5 | 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
Manchester
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
Boaz
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.
Manchester
60
Your Score
59
Area Score
Boaz
63
Your Score
63
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Manchester, TN · Boaz, AL · How this is calculated: methodology