Signals
Starkville
Columbus
Growth
40 · Bottom 33%
vs37 · Bottom 29%
Climate
76 · Top 15%
vs69 · Top 40%
Physical resilience
64 · Top 39%
vs44 · Bottom 35%
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 18%
vs92 · Bottom 43%
Access
79 · Top 46%
vs88 · Top 29%
Economic stability
19 · Bottom 8%
vs21 · Bottom 11%
Measured values
| Metric | Starkville | Columbus | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 61,743 | 67,863 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $48,750 | $51,117 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,385 | $29,086 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 70/sq mi | 57/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $208,300 | $150,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $897 | $916 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 52.4% | 63.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 25.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 23.9% | 18.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 67 | 143 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 11.7% | 7.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 58.7" | 57.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 23.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 27.4 | 38.2 | 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
Starkville
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
Columbus
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Your best match
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Starkville
59
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Columbus
59
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Starkville, MS Micro Area · Columbus, MS Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology