What stands out worked out from the figures below

Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Perham has the most people working from home (8.4%).

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	Island Falls	Perham
People
Population	768Highest	326Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.4% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	50.7±10.6Lowest 13% above ME	53±12.9Highest 18% above ME
	Perham and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1%	19.6%±8.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Island Falls and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4%	24.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Island Falls and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	18.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Island Falls and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,328±$8kLowest 25% below ME	$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME
	Perham and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$108,300±$25kLowest 63% below ME	$117,600±$9kHighest 60% below ME
	Perham and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$636±$124 44% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,720Highest 43% below ME	$1,641Lowest 46% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Perham and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 16% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	6.7%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Perham and Island Falls 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.