What stands out worked out from the figures below

Linneus has the most kids (24% under 18).

Carthage has the most people working from home (10%).

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	Linneus	Carthage
People
Population	1,226Highest	845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.6±3.9Highest about the ME average	42.8±10.9Lowest 4% below ME
	Linneus and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	15.3%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%	10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	13.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Carthage and Linneus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,114±$18kLowest 13% below ME	$79,107±$18kHighest 6% above ME
	Carthage and Linneus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$144,200±$53kLowest 51% below ME	$144,300±$41kHighest 51% below ME
	Carthage and Linneus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$811±$262 29% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,608Highest 47% below ME	$1,239Lowest 59% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±55Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Linneus and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 29% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	5.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	10%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Carthage and Linneus 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.