Signals
Orangeburg
Fort Payne
Growth
35 · Bottom 27%
vs30 · Bottom 19%
Climate
77 · Top 13%
vs78 · Top 10%
Physical resilience
34 · Bottom 22%
vs46 · Bottom 37%
Housing affordability
91 · Bottom 38%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
78 · Top 47%
vs67 · Bottom 33%
Economic stability
10 · Bottom 2%
vs17 · Bottom 7%
Measured values
| Metric | Orangeburg | Fort Payne | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 83,253 | 72,269 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $45,675 | $51,204 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $27,036 | $26,490 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 75/sq mi | 93/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $115,800 | $152,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $841 | $693 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.0% | 78.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 14.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 22.4% | 22.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 104 | 45 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.2 | 0.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 15.6% | -13.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.7" | 56.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 39 mi | 57 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 26.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.7 | 39.5 | 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
Orangeburg
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Fort Payne
Elevated or high exposure: cold wave, earthquake.
Your best match
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Orangeburg
54
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Area Score
Fort Payne
56
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Orangeburg, SC Micro Area · Fort Payne, AL Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology