What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carthage has the most people working from home (10%).

Etna has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.6%).

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	Etna
People
Population	845Lowest	1,252Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-1.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.8±10.9Highest 4% below ME	41.9±3.4Lowest 6% below ME
	Carthage and Etna 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%	20%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Etna 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%	18.5%±1.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	13.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Carthage and Etna 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	$72,379±$16kLowest 3% below ME
	Carthage and Etna 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	$183,000±$49kHighest 38% below ME
	Etna and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$811±$262 29% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,239Lowest 59% below ME	$1,745Highest 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Etna 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%	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	94.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Lowest 15 yrs newer than ME	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	28 minHighest 12% above ME
Work from home	10%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9%	5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Carthage and Etna 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.