Signals
Pella
McPherson
Growth
80 · Top 6%
vs64 · Top 28%
Climate
58 · Bottom 19%
vs61 · Bottom 30%
Physical resilience
73 · Top 24%
vs75 · Top 21%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
82 · Top 38%
vs67 · Bottom 33%
Economic stability
87 · Top 6%
vs85 · Top 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Pella | McPherson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,642 | 30,205 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,680 | $78,851 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,274 | $37,426 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 61/sq mi | 34/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $233,000 | $211,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $884 | $916 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.7% | 75.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.1% | 34.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 9.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 218 | 126 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 4.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 118.0% | 29.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 13°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 36.6" | 28.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 53 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 16.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.9 | 39.4 | 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.
McPherson
Elevated or high exposure: hail, heat wave.
Full profiles: Pella, IA Micro Area · McPherson, KS Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology