Signals
Rome
Sanford
Growth
77 · Top 9%
vs74 · Top 12%
Climate
71 · Top 33%
vs77 · Top 12%
Physical resilience
55 · Top 50%
vs55 · Bottom 49%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 48%
vs91 · Bottom 39%
Access
61 · Bottom 23%
vs81 · Top 41%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 38%
vs50 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Rome | Sanford | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 99,693 | 65,816 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,565 | $65,387 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,181 | $32,243 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 196/sq mi | 258/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $217,900 | $240,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,014 | $1,017 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.6% | 67.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 21.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 16.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 402 | 617 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.0 | 9.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 31.8% | -16.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 50.7" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 62 mi | 35 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 28.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.2 | 39.5 | 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
Rome
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Sanford
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Rome, GA Metro Area · Sanford, NC Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology