Signals
Picayune
Branson
Growth
88 · Top 2%
vs86 · Top 3%
Climate
78 · Top 8%
vs74 · Top 22%
Physical resilience
9 · Bottom 2%
vs30 · Bottom 20%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 42%
vs86 · Bottom 29%
Access
85 · Top 34%
vs72 · Bottom 42%
Economic stability
28 · Bottom 18%
vs29 · Bottom 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Picayune | Branson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,458 | 56,529 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $58,135 | $56,497 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,524 | $31,637 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 71/sq mi | 89/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $182,300 | $218,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $906 | $926 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 80.4% | 67.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 25.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 15.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 448 | 1,175 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.8 | 20.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 50.3% | 321.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 39°F | 27°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 65.0" | 44.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 29 mi | 45 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 36.2 min | 24.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.6 | 42.6 | 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
Picayune
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, inland flooding.
Branson
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Full profiles: Picayune, MS Micro Area · Branson, MO Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology