What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Beals	Washington
People
Population	498Lowest	1,208Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48±15.6Lowest 23% above U.S.	55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S.
	Washington and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Beals and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Beals and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Beals and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,063±$14kLowest 21% below U.S.	$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S.
	Washington and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$45kLowest 23% below U.S.	$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$378Lowest 36% below U.S.	$1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S.
	Washington and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,580Lowest 17% below U.S.	$4,321Highest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.4%±71.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Beals and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	36 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±10.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Beals and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Beals Public Schools	Washington School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.