What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Garland has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Lee	Garland
People
Population	925Highest	823Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME	53.5±4.3Highest 19% above ME
	Garland and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1%	18%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lee and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%	23.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Lee and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	16.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Lee and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME	$51,094±$12kHighest 32% below ME
	Garland and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$174,500±$25kLowest 41% below ME	$205,400±$38kHighest 31% below ME
	Garland and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$794±$248 30% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,547Highest 49% below ME	$1,536Lowest 49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	46.7%±46.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lee and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	19.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest ME: 74.3%	87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	26 minLowest 7% above ME
Work from home	11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9%	6.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lee and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 30/MSAD 30	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.