Valdosta and Kingsport-Bristol receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Valdosta | Kingsport-Bristol | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 150,188 | 310,842 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,085 | $57,792 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,036 | $34,596 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 93/sq mi | 155/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $201,300 | $198,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,025 | $849 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.8% | 74.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 23.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 15.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 871 | 901 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.8 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -4.0% | -13.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 39°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.4" | 44.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 25.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.2 | 45.7 | 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
Valdosta
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, cold wave.
Kingsport-Bristol
Elevated or high exposure: landslide, earthquake.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Valdosta, GA Metro Area · Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology