What stands out worked out from the figures below

Friendship has the oldest population (median age 55.5).

Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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	Friendship	Mercer
People
Population	1,213Highest	718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.5±6.9Highest 24% above ME	43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME
Kids under 18	15.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mercer and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%	25.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%	0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Friendship and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,625±$22kHighest about the ME average	$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME
	Friendship and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,000±$56kHighest 7% below ME	$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME
	Friendship and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,370±$53Lowest 20% above ME	$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME
	Mercer and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,218Highest 27% below ME	$1,970Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.5%±42.4Highest ME: 48.4%	18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Friendship and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	17.9%±7.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mercer and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 40/MSAD 40	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.