Central receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Soddy-Daisy
Central
Opportunity
65 · Top 32%
vs77 · Top 11%
Growth
44 · Bottom 40%
vs52 · Top 47%
Climate
73 · Top 38%
vs77 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
56 · Bottom 48%
vs47 · Bottom 39%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 19%
vs97 · Top 14%
Access
52 · Bottom 4%
vs66 · Bottom 10%
Economic stability
59 · Bottom 47%
vs66 · Top 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Soddy-Daisy | Central | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,231 | 29,783 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,113 | $89,554 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,887 | $43,056 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 571/sq mi | 478/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $256,600 | $288,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,047 | $1,309 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.7% | 88.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | 2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 35.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 5.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 25 | 63 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -57.6% | -14.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 42°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.0" | 61.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 76 mi | 61 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 31.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.6 | 40.4 | 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
Soddy-Daisy
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Central
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Soddy-Daisy
63
Your Score
65
Area Score
Central
67
Your Score
67
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Soddy-Daisy, TN · Central, LA · How this is calculated: methodology