Signals
Salina
Mason City
Growth
17 · Bottom 7%
vs13 · Bottom 5%
Climate
57 · Bottom 18%
vs54 · Bottom 9%
Physical resilience
71 · Top 27%
vs51 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
43 · Bottom 8%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Economic stability
79 · Top 15%
vs68 · Top 28%
Measured values
| Metric | Salina | Mason City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 59,487 | 49,982 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,745 | $68,926 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,738 | $41,222 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 41/sq mi | 52/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $178,200 | $162,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $954 | $842 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.1% | 72.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0% | 23.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 10.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 85 | 49 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.4 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -71.0% | -57.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 7°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.7" | 36.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 91 mi | 62 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 18.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 44.0 | 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
Salina
Elevated or high exposure: hail, heat wave.
Mason City
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, cold wave.
Your best match
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Salina
61
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Area Score
Mason City
58
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Salina, KS Micro Area · Mason City, IA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology