What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carthage has the highest household income ($79k).

Castle Hill has the oldest population (median age 57.8).

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	Carthage	Castle Hill
People
Population	845Highest	281Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.1% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	42.8±10.9Lowest 4% below ME	57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME
	Castle Hill and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	14.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Castle Hill and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	26.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.1%±5.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Castle Hill and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,107±$18kHighest 6% above ME	$54,250±$14kLowest 27% below ME
	Carthage and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$144,300±$41kLowest 51% below ME	$145,300±$18kHighest 51% below ME
	Castle Hill and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$811±$262Lowest 29% below ME	$950±$574Highest 17% below ME
	Castle Hill and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,239Lowest 59% below ME	$1,449Highest 52% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4%	75%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Castle Hill and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	4.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	94.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	10%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Castle Hill and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.