What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% 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	Palmyra
People
Population	1,154Lowest	2,209Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME	37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME
Kids under 18	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%	16.7%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Palmyra 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	$60,543±$17kHighest 19% below ME
	Palmyra and Patten 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	$154,900±$34kHighest 48% below ME
	Palmyra and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME	$733±$119Highest 36% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME	$1,614Highest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4%	47.2%±14.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Palmyra 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%	9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%	7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Patten and Palmyra 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.