What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alna has the most people working from home (16.4%).

Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).

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	Rome
People
Population	818Lowest	1,215Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME	48.3±9.2Highest 8% above ME
	Rome 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%	21.4%±6.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Alna and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.7%±9.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Rome 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%	39.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Rome 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	$77,639±$25kLowest 4% above ME
	Alna and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME	$329,300±$36kLowest 11% above ME
	Alna and Rome 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	$1,150±$56Highest about the ME average
	Rome 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	$1,829Lowest 40% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±70.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Rome and Alna 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%	10.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	30 minLowest 21% above ME
Work from home	16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Alna and Rome 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.