Signals
Scottsboro
Poplar Bluff
Growth
42 · Bottom 36%
vs46 · Bottom 44%
Climate
77 · Top 10%
vs75 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
33 · Bottom 22%
vs28 · Bottom 17%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 32%
vs98 · Top 39%
Access
74 · Bottom 46%
vs64 · Bottom 28%
Economic stability
23 · Bottom 14%
vs19 · Bottom 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Scottsboro | Poplar Bluff | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,053 | 42,020 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $51,908 | $49,089 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,130 | $27,431 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 49/sq mi | 60/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $159,500 | $145,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $780 | $780 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.1% | 64.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 15.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 20.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 51 | 58 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 1.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 4.1% | 222.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.1" | 50.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 46 mi | 58 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 21.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.5 | 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
Scottsboro
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake, inland flooding.
Poplar Bluff
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
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Scottsboro
58
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Area Score
Poplar Bluff
55
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Scottsboro, AL Micro Area · Poplar Bluff, MO Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology