Mustang receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Stafford
Mustang
Opportunity
59 · Top 43%
vs63 · Top 35%
Growth
72 · Top 14%
vs71 · Top 15%
Climate
73 · Top 38%
vs62 · Bottom 22%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 34%
vs54 · Bottom 46%
Housing affordability
93 · Top 24%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
73 · Top 22%
vs66 · Top 38%
Measured values
| Metric | Stafford | Mustang | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,401 | 22,192 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $87,432 | $87,844 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,516 | $40,177 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,482/sq mi | 1,852/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $257,700 | $239,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,519 | $1,287 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 38.7% | 75.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.4% | 27.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 8.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 586 | 118 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 33.7 | 5.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -15.9% | -13.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 95°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 45°F | 27°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 49.7" | 36.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 28.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.3 | 39.1 | 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
Stafford
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Mustang
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail.
Full profiles: Stafford, TX · Mustang, OK · How this is calculated: methodology