Mount Vernon-Anacortes receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
Albany
Opportunity
66 · Top 30%
vs46 · Bottom 30%
Growth
62 · Top 30%
vs56 · Top 40%
Climate
72 · Top 31%
vs68 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
31 · Bottom 21%
vs31 · Bottom 21%
Housing affordability
65 · Bottom 9%
vs72 · Bottom 14%
Access
56 · Bottom 18%
vs74 · Bottom 47%
Economic stability
60 · Top 40%
vs64 · Top 33%
Measured values
| Metric | Mount Vernon-Anacortes | Albany | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 131,328 | 130,706 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $89,263 | $76,329 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,140 | $34,924 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 76/sq mi | 57/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $545,100 | $376,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,536 | $1,320 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.1% | 66.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 5.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.2% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 21.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 13.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 393 | 235 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.0 | 1.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.9% | 27.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 77°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 83.0" | 63.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 70 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 26.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.1 | 40.1 | 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
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
Elevated or high exposure: volcanic activity, earthquake, coastal flooding.
Albany
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.
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
59
Your Score
58
Area Score
Albany
59
Your Score
54
Area Score
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Full profiles: Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Metro Area · Albany, OR Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology