What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newcastle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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	Newcastle
People
Population	818Lowest	1,913Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME	49.4±7Highest 10% above ME
	Newcastle 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%	17.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.4%±1.4Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Newcastle and Alna 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	$89,868±$33kLowest 20% above ME
	Alna and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$367,400±$55kLowest 24% above ME	$398,000±$41kHighest 34% above ME
	Newcastle and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME	$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,667Lowest 21% above ME	$4,256Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4%	5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Alna and Newcastle 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%	3.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	17 minLowest 30% below ME
Work from home	16.4%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Newcastle 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.