Signals
Pine Bluff
Columbus
Growth
29 · Bottom 18%
vs37 · Bottom 29%
Climate
68 · Top 43%
vs69 · Top 40%
Physical resilience
52 · Bottom 46%
vs44 · Bottom 35%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 49%
vs92 · Bottom 43%
Access
73 · Bottom 44%
vs88 · Top 29%
Economic stability
13 · Bottom 3%
vs21 · Bottom 11%
Measured values
| Metric | Pine Bluff | Columbus | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 72,255 | 67,863 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $51,605 | $51,117 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $27,058 | $29,086 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 49/sq mi | 57/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $117,000 | $150,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $880 | $916 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.1% | 63.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 25.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 18.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 65 | 143 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.9 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 22.6% | 7.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 50.8" | 57.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 43 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 23.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 38.2 | 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
Pine Bluff
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Columbus
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Your best match
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Pine Bluff
55
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Area Score
Columbus
59
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Pine Bluff, AR Micro Area · Columbus, MS Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology