Signals
Palatka
Kinston
Growth
59 · Top 35%
vs54 · Top 43%
Climate
85 · Top 2%
vs74 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
13 · Bottom 5%
vs27 · Bottom 16%
Housing affordability
85 · Bottom 27%
vs89 · Bottom 34%
Access
83 · Top 36%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
10 · Bottom 2%
vs22 · Bottom 12%
Measured values
| Metric | Palatka | Kinston | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,164 | 54,919 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $47,934 | $45,143 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,621 | $29,431 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 103/sq mi | 138/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $160,300 | $120,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $906 | $861 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.4% | 59.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.5% | 16.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 23.4% | 22.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 99 | 153 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 2.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 41.4% | 16.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.3" | 52.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 35 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 26.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.0 | 41.9 | 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
Palatka
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire.
Kinston
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Palatka, FL Micro Area · Kinston, NC Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology