What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% 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	Brownfield	Mercer
People
Population	1,830Highest	718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME	43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME
	Mercer and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	20.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Brownfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±0.9 ME: 5.8%	0.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,889±$5kLowest 19% below ME	$71,107±$2kHighest 5% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,500±$36kHighest 3% below ME	$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME
	Brownfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME	$1,422±$249Lowest 25% above ME
	Brownfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,976Highest about the ME average	$1,970Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4%	18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Brownfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987 10 yrs newer than ME	1987 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	44 minHighest 80% above ME	30 minLowest 23% above ME
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mercer and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 72/MSAD 72	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.