What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).

Embden has the most homeowners (96.3%).

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	Madison	Embden
People
Population	2,676Highest	995Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average	60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME
	Embden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Embden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Embden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Madison and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,698±$20kHighest 17% below ME	$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME
	Madison and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,900±$59kLowest 45% below ME	$173,400±$59kHighest 42% below ME
	Embden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$218 25% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,740Lowest 43% below ME	$1,804Highest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.5%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Madison and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 25% above ME	33 minHighest 34% above ME
Work from home	21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9%	18.7%±7.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Madison and Embden 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.