Anniston-Oxford receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Wheeling
Anniston-Oxford
Opportunity
31 · Bottom 8%
vs24 · Bottom 4%
Growth
4 · Bottom 1%
vs21 · Bottom 10%
Climate
65 · Bottom 46%
vs78 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
26 · Bottom 15%
vs43 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 28%
Access
74 · Bottom 45%
vs68 · Bottom 35%
Economic stability
26 · Bottom 16%
vs23 · Bottom 13%
Measured values
| Metric | Wheeling | Anniston-Oxford | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 136,920 | 116,090 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,418 | $55,029 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,460 | $30,275 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 145/sq mi | 192/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $156,600 | $156,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $812 | $826 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.4% | 70.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 20.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 17.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5 | 116 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -50.0% | -32.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.6" | 52.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 48 mi | 55 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 26.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.2 | 39.3 | 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
Wheeling
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Anniston-Oxford
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Wheeling
47
Your Score
44
Area Score
Anniston-Oxford
51
Your Score
49
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Wheeling, WV-OH Metro Area · Anniston-Oxford, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology