Staunton receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Pendleton
Staunton
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 26%
vs67 · Top 27%
Growth
43 · Bottom 38%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Climate
67 · Bottom 39%
vs70 · Bottom 49%
Physical resilience
55 · Bottom 47%
vs66 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
85 · Top 42%
vs88 · Top 37%
Access
7 · Bottom 1%
vs11 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
36 · Bottom 12%
vs48 · Bottom 28%
Measured values
| Metric | Pendleton | Staunton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,950 | 25,948 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,563 | $65,581 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,052 | $36,608 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,464/sq mi | 1,303/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $287,100 | $259,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $956 | $1,024 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 56.5% | 60.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 37.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 12.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 19 | 94 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 3.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 72.7% | -28.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 28°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 12.8" | 40.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 109 mi | 102 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.5 min | 22.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.9 | 39.9 | 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
Pendleton
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake, heat wave.
Staunton
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Pendleton, OR · Staunton, VA · How this is calculated: methodology