What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gaines has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

Mineral has the highest household income ($65k).

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	Gaines	Mineral
People
Population	559Highest	472Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest PA: +2.4%	-7.4%Lowest PA: +2.4%
Median age	56.6±6.7Highest 38% above PA	55.3±4.7Lowest 35% above PA
	Gaines and Mineral are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	8.9%±3.9Lowest PA: 20.4%	10%±3.2Highest PA: 20.4%
	Mineral and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±3Lowest PA: 19.5%	31.8%±3.6Highest PA: 19.5%
	Mineral and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.4%Lowest PA: 35.2%	15.7%Highest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.5Highest PA: 6.1%	1.5%±2.9Lowest PA: 6.1%
	Gaines and Mineral are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,281±$20kLowest 32% below PA	$65,000±$28kHighest 17% below PA
	Mineral and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$188,500±$18kHighest 26% below PA	$148,900±$36kLowest 41% below PA
	Gaines and Mineral are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$592±$45 51% below PA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$976Lowest 71% below PA	$1,746Highest 47% below PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±26.9Highest PA: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Gaines and Mineral are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Lowest PA: 11.7%	12.8%Highest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Lowest PA: 69.3%	91.4%Highest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 15 yrs newer than PA	1976Lowest 11 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below PA	37 minHighest 39% above PA
Work from home	13%±6.5Highest PA: 15.6%	6.7%±4.3Lowest PA: 15.6%
	Gaines and Mineral 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

PA 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.