What stands out worked out from the figures below

Embden has the most expensive homes ($173k median).

Mount Chase has the most kids (22.1% 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	Embden	Mount Chase
People
Population	995Highest	280Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME	49.9±10.9Lowest 11% above ME
	Embden and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.1%±10.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mount Chase and Embden 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%	28.9%±6.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Embden and Mount Chase 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%	32.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.9%±5.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mount Chase 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±$23kHighest 24% below ME	$41,711±$7kLowest 44% below ME
	Embden and Mount Chase 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	$115,700±$15kLowest 61% below ME
	Embden and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,281±$1k 12% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,804Highest 41% below ME	$1,548Lowest 49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	28.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Mount Chase 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%	30.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	90%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 34% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	18.7%±7.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	22.2%±12.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mount Chase 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.