Signals
West Plains
Americus
Growth
25 · Bottom 13%
vs18 · Bottom 8%
Climate
73 · Top 27%
vs81 · Top 3%
Physical resilience
38 · Bottom 27%
vs52 · Bottom 45%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 46%
vs87 · Bottom 31%
Access
40 · Bottom 6%
vs40 · Bottom 6%
Economic stability
23 · Bottom 14%
vs18 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | West Plains | Americus | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,383 | 33,574 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $50,993 | $43,688 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $27,570 | $27,650 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 44/sq mi | 52/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $173,000 | $122,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $733 | $854 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.3% | 59.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 21.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.3% | 22.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 28 | 34 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -70.5% | -19.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.3" | 53.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 89 mi | 90 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 23.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.3 | 38.4 | 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
West Plains
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, earthquake, cold wave.
Americus
Elevated or high exposure: drought, hurricane, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
West Plains
49
Your Score
—
Area Score
Americus
49
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: West Plains, MO Micro Area · Americus, GA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology