Signals
Meridian
Roanoke Rapids
Growth
31 · Bottom 21%
vs37 · Bottom 29%
Climate
75 · Top 20%
vs77 · Top 11%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 42%
vs42 · Bottom 31%
Housing affordability
90 · Bottom 36%
vs94 · Bottom 49%
Access
48 · Bottom 12%
vs61 · Bottom 22%
Economic stability
15 · Bottom 5%
vs9 · Bottom 1%
Measured values
| Metric | Meridian | Roanoke Rapids | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 86,818 | 64,606 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $49,822 | $47,104 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,671 | $28,984 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 62/sq mi | 51/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $128,100 | $108,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $937 | $803 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.1% | 66.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 16.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 24.7% | 22.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 39 | 111 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.4 | 1.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 85.7% | 23.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 82 mi | 68 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 27.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 46.0 | 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
Meridian
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, hurricane.
Roanoke Rapids
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Meridian
54
Your Score
—
Area Score
Roanoke Rapids
53
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Meridian, MS Micro Area · Roanoke Rapids, NC Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology