What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carthage has the most affordable homes ($144k median).

Stetson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).

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	Stetson
People
Population	845Lowest	1,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.8±10.9Highest 4% below ME	42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME
	Carthage and Stetson 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%	22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	14.2%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Stetson and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	19.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Stetson 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	$76,023±$28kLowest about the ME average
	Carthage and Stetson 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	$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME
	Stetson and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$811±$262Highest 29% below ME	$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME
	Carthage and Stetson 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	$1,962Highest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4%
	Stetson 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%	10.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	87.9%Lowest 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	32 minHighest 29% above ME
Work from home	10%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Stetson 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.