What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Chase has the most kids (22.1% under 18).

Embden has the most expensive homes ($173k median).

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	Mount Chase	Embden
People
Population	280Lowest	995Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.9% ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.9±10.9Lowest 11% above ME	60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME
	Embden and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.1%±10.6Highest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mount Chase and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.9%±6.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Embden and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±5.7Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Mount Chase and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$41,711±$7kLowest 44% below ME	$56,875±$23kHighest 24% below ME
	Embden and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$115,700±$15kLowest 61% below ME	$173,400±$59kHighest 42% below ME
	Embden and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,281±$1k 12% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,548Lowest 49% below ME	$1,804Highest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Mount Chase and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	30.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% above ME	33 minHighest 34% above ME
Work from home	22.2%±12.8Highest ME: 15.9%	18.7%±7.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Mount Chase 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.