Signals
Rocky Mount
Zanesville
Growth
47 · Bottom 45%
vs30 · Bottom 20%
Climate
75 · Top 18%
vs64 · Bottom 44%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 34%
vs49 · Bottom 41%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 33%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
73 · Bottom 44%
vs74 · Bottom 45%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 35%
vs46 · Bottom 43%
Measured values
| Metric | Rocky Mount | Zanesville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 144,952 | 86,411 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,636 | $60,780 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,904 | $32,809 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 139/sq mi | 130/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $167,800 | $182,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $920 | $833 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.6% | 68.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 20.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 15.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 498 | 135 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.4 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -12.5% | -18.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 31°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.4" | 38.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 43 mi | 50 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 26.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.6 | 40.3 | 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
Rocky Mount
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Zanesville
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
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Rocky Mount
57
Your Score
54
Area Score
Zanesville
60
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area · Zanesville, OH Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology