What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most expensive homes ($210k median).

Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).

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	Lowell	Patten
People
Population	378Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-13.4% ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.5±8.6Lowest 24% above ME	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME
	Patten and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lowell and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Patten and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Lowell and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME	$51,484±$6kHighest 31% below ME
	Patten and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$389±$99 66% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,478Highest 51% below ME	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	56%±64.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lowell and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 24% above ME	28 minLowest 13% above ME
Work from home	10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Patten and Lowell 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.