What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eustis has the most expensive homes ($262k median).

Merrill has the most kids (41.7% 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	Eustis	Merrill
People
Population	453Highest	372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	59.1±14Highest 32% above ME	33.2±9.9Lowest 26% below ME
Kids under 18	15.5%±13.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	38.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4%	14%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13%Lowest ME: 36.2%	22.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8%	0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Eustis and Merrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$32,118±$11kLowest 57% below ME	$65,536±$8kHighest 12% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,200±$51kHighest 12% below ME	$131,600±$21kLowest 56% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$916±$547 20% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,542Highest 49% below ME	$1,449Lowest 52% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66%±37.8Highest ME: 48.4%	60%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Eustis and Merrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	12 minLowest 52% below ME	29 minHighest 19% above ME
Work from home	12.5%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Merrill and Eustis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Eustis Public Schools	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.