MetricBelmont, NCShelby, NC
Population15,54622,100
Median Household Income$94,883$48,376
Median Rent$1,365/mo$945/mo
Median Home Value$395,000$197,200
Cost of Living (US = 100)97—
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income47%47.2%
Poverty Rate7.9%17.6%
Unemployment Rate4% (county)4.4% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k307879
Property Crime Rate /100k2,0712,462
Median AQI——
Good AQI Days /yr——
Summer Highs89°F89°F
Winter Lows34°F29°F
Snowfall4 in/yr4 in/yr
Avg Commute26.5 min20.2 min
Hospitals—1
Avg Hospital Rating—3.0 / 5
Students per Teacher18.416.8
College Degree Rate51.1%26.6%
Foreign-Born %6%2.3%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+9.4%+6.5%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.