What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minerva has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

Proctor has the most kids (17.2% 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	Minerva	Proctor
People
Population	836Lowest	1,586Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S.	47.3±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S.
	Minerva and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Proctor and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Minerva and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.	$75,060±$12kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Proctor and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S.	$206,000±$20kHighest 38% below U.S.
	Proctor and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,059±$200Highest 25% below U.S.
	Proctor and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S.	$3,944Highest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±74.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.4%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Proctor and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	11.6%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Minerva and Proctor 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

U.S. 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.