Signals
Pella
Baraboo
Growth
80 · Top 6%
vs74 · Top 14%
Climate
58 · Bottom 19%
vs56 · Bottom 13%
Physical resilience
73 · Top 24%
vs62 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs97 · Top 41%
Access
82 · Top 38%
vs81 · Top 40%
Economic stability
87 · Top 6%
vs83 · Top 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Pella | Baraboo | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,642 | 66,009 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,680 | $79,541 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,274 | $41,246 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 61/sq mi | 79/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $233,000 | $258,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $884 | $1,018 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.7% | 72.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.1% | 27.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 8.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 218 | 430 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 6.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 118.0% | 37.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 13°F | 10°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 36.6" | 34.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 36 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.9 | 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
Pella
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, heat wave.
Baraboo
Elevated or high exposure: hail, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Pella, IA Micro Area · Baraboo, WI Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology