Signals
New Ulm
Van Wert
Growth
68 · Top 21%
vs47 · Bottom 44%
Climate
53 · Bottom 6%
vs62 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 10%
vs86 · Top 8%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
42 · Bottom 7%
vs60 · Bottom 21%
Economic stability
89 · Top 5%
vs81 · Top 13%
Measured values
| Metric | New Ulm | Van Wert | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,800 | 28,826 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $69,378 | $67,917 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,653 | $34,583 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 42/sq mi | 70/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $191,200 | $152,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $890 | $782 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 78.9% | 82.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 17.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 9.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 149 | 48 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.8 | 1.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 413.8% | 41.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 6°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 28.0" | 40.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 86 mi | 65 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 16.1 min | 21.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.0 | 41.6 | 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
New Ulm
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
Van Wert
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
Full profiles: New Ulm, MN Micro Area · Van Wert, OH Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology