What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Moose River has the most kids (32.3% 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	Patten	Moose River
People
Population	1,154Highest	248Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.4% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME	32.9±8.2Lowest 27% below ME
Kids under 18	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	32.3%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%	8.5%±10.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	14.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Moose River 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±$6kLowest 31% below ME	$76,324±$9kHighest about the ME average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME	$144,900±$31kHighest 51% below ME
	Moose River and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$389±$99 66% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,199Highest 61% below ME	$928Lowest 69% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Moose River 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%	14.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 11 yrs older than ME	1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	15 minLowest 39% below ME
Work from home	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%	4.5%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Patten and Moose River 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.