What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Linneus has the most kids (24% under 18).

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	Linneus
People
Population	845Lowest	1,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.8±10.9Lowest 4% below ME	44.6±3.9Highest about the ME average
	Linneus 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%	24%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	15.3%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	11.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Carthage and Linneus 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	$65,114±$18kLowest 13% below ME
	Carthage and Linneus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$144,300±$41kHighest 51% below ME	$144,200±$53kLowest 51% below ME
	Carthage and Linneus 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	$1,608Highest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.8%±55Highest ME: 48.4%
	Linneus 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%	12%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	17 minLowest 29% below ME
Work from home	10%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9%	5.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Carthage and Linneus 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.