Signals
Starkville
Pine Bluff
Growth
40 · Bottom 33%
vs29 · Bottom 18%
Climate
76 · Top 15%
vs68 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
64 · Top 39%
vs52 · Bottom 46%
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 18%
vs94 · Bottom 49%
Access
79 · Top 46%
vs73 · Bottom 44%
Economic stability
19 · Bottom 8%
vs13 · Bottom 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Starkville | Pine Bluff | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 61,743 | 72,255 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $48,750 | $51,605 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,385 | $27,058 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 70/sq mi | 49/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $208,300 | $117,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $897 | $880 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 52.4% | 64.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 20.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 23.9% | 18.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 67 | 65 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 0.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 11.7% | 22.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 58.7" | 50.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 43 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 25.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 27.4 | 40.2 | 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.
Pine Bluff
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Your best match
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Starkville
59
Your Score
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Area Score
Pine Bluff
55
Your Score
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Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Starkville, MS Micro Area · Pine Bluff, AR Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology