What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lowell has the most expensive homes ($210k 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	Patten	Lowell
People
Population	1,154Highest	378Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.4% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME	55.5±8.6Lowest 24% above ME
	Patten and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Lowell and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%	31.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Patten and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	30%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Lowell and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,484±$6kHighest 31% below ME	$50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME
	Patten and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME	$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$389±$99 66% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME	$1,478Highest 51% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56%±64.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	80%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Lowell and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	31 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%	10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Patten and Lowell 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.