What stands out worked out from the figures below

Painted Post has the most affordable homes ($156k median).

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Painted Post	Middlesex
People
Population	1,824Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±5.2Highest 17% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Painted Post and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Painted Post and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,891±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$155,900±$13kLowest 53% below U.S.	$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$839±$281Lowest 41% below U.S.	$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,442Lowest 74% above U.S.	$6,483Highest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.4%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Painted Post and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	—	None in town
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.