What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Prospect has the most kids (25.2% 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	Prospect
People
Population	718Lowest	923Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME	45.2±7.5Highest about the ME average
	Prospect 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%	25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Prospect 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%	19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Mercer and Prospect 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%	22.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.6%±1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Prospect 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	$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME
	Prospect and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME	$196,500±$19kLowest 34% below ME
	Mercer and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME	$1,107±$61Lowest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,970Lowest 35% below ME	$1,979Highest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4%	31.3%±42Highest ME: 48.4%
	Prospect 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%	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME	1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 23% above ME	33 minHighest 34% above ME
Work from home	20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%	6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
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.