What stands out worked out from the figures below

Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).

Perham has the most kids (19.6% 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	Perham
People
Population	995Highest	326Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME	53±12.9Lowest 18% above ME
	Embden and Perham 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%	19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Perham 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%	24.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Embden and Perham 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%	18.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Perham 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	$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME
	Perham 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	$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME
	Embden and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,804Highest 41% below ME	$1,641Lowest 46% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Perham and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 34% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Embden and Perham 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.