What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ulysses has the most kids (15.9% 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	Gaines	Ulysses
People
Population	559Lowest	615Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest PA: +2.4%	+1.3%Lowest PA: +2.4%
Median age	56.6±6.7Highest 38% above PA	55.9±5.7Lowest 37% above PA
	Gaines and Ulysses 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%	15.9%±3.7Highest PA: 20.4%
	Ulysses and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±3Highest PA: 19.5%	25.9%±3.6Lowest PA: 19.5%
	Gaines and Ulysses 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%	17.5%Highest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.5Highest PA: 6.1%	1.5%±2.2Lowest PA: 6.1%
	Gaines and Ulysses 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	$57,266±$18kHighest 27% below PA
	Ulysses 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	$156,900±$27kLowest 38% below PA
	Gaines and Ulysses are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$592±$45Lowest 51% below PA	$900±$269Highest 26% below PA
	Ulysses and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$976Lowest 71% below PA	$1,440Highest 57% below PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±26.9Lowest PA: 48.2%	63.3%±58.9Highest PA: 48.2%
	Ulysses and Gaines 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%	12.5%Highest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Highest PA: 69.3%	85.7%Lowest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 15 yrs newer than PA	1972Lowest 7 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below PA	30 minHighest 12% above PA
Work from home	13%±6.5Highest PA: 15.6%	7.9%±4.8Lowest PA: 15.6%
	Gaines and Ulysses 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.