MetricBoone, NCLenoir, NC
Population20,03218,299
Median Household Income$30,065$49,910
Median Rent$1,111/mo$664/mo
Median Home Value$411,100$179,400
Cost of Living (US = 100)—89
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income74.2%33%
Poverty Rate51.2%14.6%
Unemployment Rate3.5% (county)3.9% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k158345
Property Crime Rate /100k9403,006
Median AQI—36
Good AQI Days /yr——
Summer Highs78°F86°F
Winter Lows23°F29°F
Snowfall26 in/yr4 in/yr
Avg Commute15.8 min24.8 min
Hospitals11
Avg Hospital Rating3.0 / 53.0 / 5
Students per Teacher11.814
College Degree Rate56.8%21.2%
Foreign-Born %4.5%7.1%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+4.2%+0.1%

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