What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Starks has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.3%).

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	Starks
People
Population	1,154Highest	556Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-7.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME	46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME
	Patten and Starks 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%	16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Starks 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%	20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	21%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Patten and Starks 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	$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME
	Starks 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	$148,500±$27kHighest 50% below ME
	Starks 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	$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME	$1,348Highest 56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4%	45.5%±90.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Starks 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%	19.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	33 minHighest 33% above ME
Work from home	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%	3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
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.