Pocatello receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Pocatello
Manhattan
Opportunity
40 · Bottom 19%
vs44 · Bottom 26%
Growth
76 · Top 11%
vs50 · Top 49%
Climate
56 · Bottom 13%
vs61 · Bottom 31%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 42%
vs61 · Top 43%
Housing affordability
83 · Bottom 23%
vs92 · Bottom 43%
Access
89 · Top 25%
vs70 · Bottom 38%
Economic stability
70 · Top 25%
vs60 · Top 38%
Measured values
| Metric | Pocatello | Manhattan | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 89,454 | 133,965 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,499 | $65,469 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,866 | $34,818 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 80/sq mi | 73/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $300,700 | $223,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $960 | $1,063 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.5% | 52.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.9% | -2.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.6% | 40.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 16.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 581 | 438 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 3.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 47.5% | -0.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 11.8" | 32.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 24 mi | 53 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 18.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.2 | 27.3 | 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
Pocatello
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.
Manhattan
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, heat wave.
Full profiles: Pocatello, ID Metro Area · Manhattan, KS Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology