What stands out worked out from the figures below

Crystal has the oldest population (median age 63.2).

Island Falls has the most people working from home (6.7%).

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	Crystal	Island Falls
People
Population	247Lowest	768Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-9.4% ME: +2.6%
Median age	63.2±8.4Highest 41% above ME	50.7±10.6Lowest 13% above ME
	Crystal and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±11.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Island Falls and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4%	26.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	12.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±6.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Island Falls and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,125±$13kLowest 36% below ME	$56,328±$8kHighest 25% below ME
	Island Falls and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$129,200±$60kHighest 56% below ME	$108,300±$25kLowest 63% below ME
	Crystal and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,563±$922Highest 37% above ME	$636±$124Lowest 44% below ME
	Crystal and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$943Lowest 69% below ME	$1,720Highest 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	17.9%±51.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Island Falls and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	20.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 10% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Island Falls and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.