What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wade has the most kids (16.4% 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	Wade
People
Population	1,154Highest	244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.4% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME	53.6±18.5Lowest 20% above ME
	Patten and Wade 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%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wade 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%	34.8%±10.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Patten and Wade 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%	33.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Patten and Wade 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	$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME
	Patten and Wade 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	$157,100±$109kHighest 47% below ME
	Wade 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	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME	$1,655Highest 45% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Wade 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%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Lowest 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 minLowest 13% above ME	34 minHighest 37% above ME
Work from home	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Patten and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.