Mineral Wells receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Mineral Wells
Athens
Opportunity
52 · Bottom 41%
vs42 · Bottom 21%
Growth
53 · Top 45%
vs62 · Top 29%
Climate
70 · Bottom 48%
vs76 · Top 26%
Physical resilience
64 · Top 44%
vs52 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 35%
vs85 · Top 43%
Access
74 · Bottom 16%
vs70 · Bottom 12%
Economic stability
33 · Bottom 10%
vs38 · Bottom 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Mineral Wells | Athens | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,244 | 14,471 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $55,929 | $53,929 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $26,124 | $31,458 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 747/sq mi | 930/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $161,300 | $225,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,077 | $846 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.0% | 59.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.6% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.6% | 23.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 22.4% | 17.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 20 | 68 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 4.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -4.8% | 58.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 31.8" | 60.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 46 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 23.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 39.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 2 | 6 | 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
Mineral Wells
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire.
Athens
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.
Mineral Wells
62
Your Score
63
Area Score
Athens
59
Your Score
58
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Mineral Wells, TX · Athens, TN · How this is calculated: methodology