What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newcastle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Alna has the most kids (32.9% 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	Newcastle	Alna
People
Population	1,913Highest	818Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.4±7Highest 10% above ME	40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME
	Newcastle and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	24.4%±1.4Highest ME: 22.4%	17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Newcastle and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,868±$33kLowest 20% above ME	$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME
	Alna and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,000±$41kHighest 34% above ME	$367,400±$55kLowest 24% above ME
	Newcastle and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME	$1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,256Highest 40% above ME	$3,667Lowest 21% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Alna and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 30% below ME	35 minHighest 41% above ME
Work from home	20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9%	16.4%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Newcastle and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.