Joplin receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
McMinnville
Joplin
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 45%
vs63 · Top 35%
Growth
68 · Top 19%
vs67 · Top 21%
Climate
78 · Top 21%
vs71 · Top 45%
Physical resilience
49 · Bottom 42%
vs46 · Bottom 36%
Housing affordability
85 · Top 42%
vs88 · Top 36%
Access
73 · Bottom 15%
vs68 · Bottom 10%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 8%
vs42 · Bottom 20%
Measured values
| Metric | McMinnville | Joplin | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,844 | 52,593 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $47,179 | $52,097 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $25,507 | $32,024 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,252/sq mi | 1,381/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $182,200 | $168,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $791 | $962 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 49.7% | 53.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 3.3% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 26.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 16.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 75 | 257 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.4 | 4.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 19.0% | 11.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 31°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 54.4" | 45.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 47 mi | 56 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 19.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.0 | 38.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 2 | 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
McMinnville
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Joplin
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail, drought.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
McMinnville
57
Your Score
58
Area Score
Joplin
64
Your Score
65
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: McMinnville, TN · Joplin, MO · How this is calculated: methodology