Staunton receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Staunton
Pendleton
Opportunity
67 · Top 27%
vs45 · Bottom 26%
Growth
47 · Bottom 45%
vs43 · Bottom 38%
Climate
70 · Bottom 49%
vs67 · Bottom 39%
Physical resilience
66 · Top 42%
vs55 · Bottom 47%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 37%
vs85 · Top 42%
Access
11 · Bottom 1%
vs7 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 28%
vs36 · Bottom 12%
Measured values
| Metric | Staunton | Pendleton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,948 | 16,950 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,581 | $66,563 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,608 | $31,052 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,303/sq mi | 1,464/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $259,200 | $287,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,024 | $956 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.9% | 56.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 5.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.7% | 24.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 15.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 94 | 19 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.6 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -28.2% | 72.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.6" | 12.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 102 mi | 109 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 15.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.9 | 36.9 | 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
Staunton
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Pendleton
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake, heat wave.
Full profiles: Staunton, VA · Pendleton, OR · How this is calculated: methodology