What stands out worked out from the figures below

Linneus has the most affordable homes ($144k median).

Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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	Charleston
People
Population	1,226Highest	1,117Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.6±3.9Lowest about the ME average	45.4±5.9Highest about the ME average
	Charleston and Linneus 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%	19.4%±5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Linneus and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%	11.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Linneus and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	12.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Linneus and Charleston 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	$75,250±$20kHighest about the ME average
	Charleston 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	$226,500±$17kHighest 24% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$988±$870 13% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,608Lowest 47% below ME	$1,811Highest 40% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±55Highest ME: 48.4%	45.5%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Linneus and Charleston 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%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 29% below ME	26 minHighest 5% above ME
Work from home	5.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.6%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Charleston 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.