What stands out worked out from the figures below

Embden has the most homeowners (96.3%).

Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).

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	Embden	Madison
People
Population	995Lowest	2,676Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME	44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average
	Embden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1%	11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Embden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4%	22.9%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Embden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	18.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Madison and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME	$61,698±$20kHighest 17% below ME
	Madison and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,400±$59kHighest 42% below ME	$163,900±$59kLowest 45% below ME
	Embden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$850±$218 25% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,804Highest 41% below ME	$1,740Lowest 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	22.5%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Madison and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 34% above ME	31 minLowest 25% above ME
Work from home	18.7%±7.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Madison and Embden 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.