What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Perry has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

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	Perry
People
Population	718Lowest	744Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME	45.5±11.4Highest about the ME average
	Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4%	21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Mercer and Perry 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%	31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.8%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME	$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME	$196,400±$13kLowest 34% below ME
	Mercer and Perry 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	$3,132Highest 3% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4%	27.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Perry and Mercer 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%	4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	91.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	26 minLowest 6% above ME
Work from home	20.5%±8.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Perry Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.