Valdosta receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Shreveport-Bossier City
Valdosta
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 18%
vs47 · Bottom 33%
Growth
46 · Bottom 44%
vs60 · Top 34%
Climate
70 · Top 38%
vs76 · Top 14%
Physical resilience
65 · Top 37%
vs62 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
87 · Bottom 29%
vs86 · Bottom 28%
Access
97 · Top 12%
vs98 · Top 7%
Economic stability
26 · Bottom 16%
vs31 · Bottom 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Shreveport-Bossier City | Valdosta | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 386,819 | 150,188 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $55,925 | $57,085 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,556 | $30,036 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 149/sq mi | 93/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $191,600 | $201,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,014 | $1,025 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.9% | 59.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 25.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 20.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,175 | 871 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.0 | 5.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 22.8% | -4.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 94°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 39°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.4" | 48.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 22.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.6 | 33.2 | 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
Shreveport-Bossier City
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail.
Valdosta
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, cold wave.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Shreveport-Bossier City
61
Your Score
60
Area Score
Valdosta
66
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metro Area · Valdosta, GA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology