Dubuque receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Mankato
Dubuque
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 47%
vs64 · Top 32%
Growth
71 · Top 17%
vs59 · Top 35%
Climate
53 · Bottom 6%
vs57 · Bottom 16%
Physical resilience
82 · Top 13%
vs77 · Top 18%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 48%
vs99 · Top 30%
Access
58 · Bottom 19%
vs68 · Bottom 35%
Economic stability
77 · Top 18%
vs90 · Top 4%
Measured values
| Metric | Mankato | Dubuque | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,282 | 99,030 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,808 | $77,630 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,431 | $41,404 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 87/sq mi | 163/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $268,100 | $237,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,069 | $959 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.8% | 73.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 3.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.9% | -1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.8% | 33.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 9.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 669 | 647 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.4 | 6.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 113.1% | 31.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 6°F | 11°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.9" | 38.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 68 mi | 58 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 17.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.0 | 39.1 | 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
Mankato
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
Dubuque
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Full profiles: Mankato, MN Metro Area · Dubuque, IA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology