Signals
Mason City
Cortland
Growth
13 · Bottom 5%
vs15 · Bottom 6%
Climate
54 · Bottom 9%
vs54 · Bottom 10%
Physical resilience
51 · Bottom 44%
vs48 · Bottom 40%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
62 · Bottom 23%
vs82 · Top 39%
Economic stability
68 · Top 28%
vs64 · Top 33%
Measured values
| Metric | Mason City | Cortland | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,982 | 46,246 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,926 | $70,418 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,222 | $34,752 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 52/sq mi | 93/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $162,900 | $162,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $842 | $984 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.1% | 66.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.3% | 29.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 12.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 49 | 31 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 0.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -57.8% | -18.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 7°F | 13°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 36.3" | 41.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 62 mi | 36 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 24.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.0 | 37.0 | 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
Mason City
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, cold wave.
Cortland
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
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Mason City
58
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Area Score
Cortland
61
Your Score
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Mason City, IA Micro Area · Cortland, NY Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology