What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).

Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alna	Mercer
People
Population	818Highest	718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME	43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME
	Mercer and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%	20.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mercer and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Alna and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME	$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME	$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME	$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME
	Mercer and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,667Highest 21% above ME	$1,970Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4%	18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Alna and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	30 minLowest 23% above ME
Work from home	16.4%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mercer and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.