Valdosta receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Valdosta
Shreveport-Bossier City
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 33%
vs39 · Bottom 18%
Growth
60 · Top 34%
vs46 · Bottom 44%
Climate
76 · Top 14%
vs70 · Top 38%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 42%
vs65 · Top 37%
Housing affordability
86 · Bottom 28%
vs87 · Bottom 29%
Access
98 · Top 7%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 22%
vs26 · Bottom 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Valdosta | Shreveport-Bossier City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 150,188 | 386,819 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,085 | $55,925 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,036 | $34,556 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 93/sq mi | 149/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $201,300 | $191,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,025 | $1,014 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.8% | 62.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 26.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 20.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 871 | 1,175 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.8 | 3.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -4.0% | 22.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 39°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.4" | 51.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 23.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.2 | 38.6 | 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.
Shreveport-Bossier City
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Valdosta
66
Your Score
64
Area Score
Shreveport-Bossier City
61
Your Score
60
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Valdosta, GA Metro Area · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology