What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).

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	Oakfield	Patten
People
Population	629Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	57.7±6.3Lowest 29% above ME	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME
	Patten and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	11.3%±2.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Patten and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36.2%±7.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Patten and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Oakfield and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$46,378±$3kLowest 38% below ME	$51,484±$6kHighest 31% below ME
	Patten and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$144,300±$46kHighest 51% below ME	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME
	Oakfield and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$592±$261Highest 48% below ME	$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME
	Oakfield and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,272Highest 58% below ME	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.6%±13.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	82.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 25% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	5.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Patten and Oakfield 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.