What stands out worked out from the figures below

Howland has the most expensive homes ($152k median).

Island Falls has the most people working from home (6.7%).

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	Howland	Island Falls
People
Population	1,235Highest	768Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-9.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.9±11.5Lowest 7% above ME	50.7±10.6Highest 13% above ME
	Island Falls and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%	20.7%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Howland and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Island Falls and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.9% ME: 36.2%	12.9% ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Island Falls and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,250±$25kLowest 29% below ME	$56,328±$8kHighest 25% below ME
	Island Falls and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$152,100±$34kHighest 49% below ME	$108,300±$25kLowest 63% below ME
	Howland and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$916±$246Highest 20% below ME	$636±$124Lowest 44% below ME
	Howland and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,557Lowest 49% below ME	$1,720Highest 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±18.2Highest ME: 48.4%	17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Howland and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	28%Highest ME: 10.7%	20.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 9 yrs older than ME	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 28% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	0%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Island Falls and Howland 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.