What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

Baldwin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).

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	Mercer	Baldwin
People
Population	718Lowest	1,170Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME	50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME
	Baldwin and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1%	12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mercer and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Baldwin and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,107±$2kHighest 5% below ME	$68,045±$8kLowest 9% below ME
	Mercer and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME	$263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME
	Baldwin and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$249 25% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,970Lowest 35% below ME	$2,540Highest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.5%±74Highest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Mercer and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	89%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 23% above ME	32 minHighest 32% above ME
Work from home	20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%	8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Mercer and Baldwin 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.