Signals
Mitchell
Storm Lake
Growth
43 · Bottom 39%
vs18 · Bottom 8%
Climate
55 · Bottom 13%
vs55 · Bottom 10%
Physical resilience
70 · Top 29%
vs64 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
55 · Bottom 17%
vs58 · Bottom 20%
Economic stability
83 · Top 11%
vs89 · Top 4%
Measured values
| Metric | Mitchell | Storm Lake | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,808 | 20,753 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $69,101 | $71,719 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,926 | $34,666 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 18/sq mi | 36/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $197,700 | $159,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $838 | $894 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.8% | 73.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 22.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 7.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 72 | 21 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.8 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -8.9% | -77.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 9°F | 8°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 21.1" | 26.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 66 mi | 67 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 15.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.5 | 35.6 | 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
Mitchell
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, cold wave.
Storm Lake
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, strong wind.
Your best match
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Mitchell
68
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Area Score
Storm Lake
64
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Mitchell, SD Micro Area · Storm Lake, IA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology