What stands out worked out from the figures below

Perham has the most kids (19.6% under 18).

Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).

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	Perham	Embden
People
Population	326Lowest	995Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.9% ME: +2.6%
Median age	53±12.9Lowest 18% above ME	60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME
	Embden and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Perham and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Embden and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Perham and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME	$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME
	Perham and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME	$173,400±$59kHighest 42% below ME
	Embden and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,641Lowest 46% below ME	$1,804Highest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Perham and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	12.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	33 minHighest 34% above ME
Work from home	8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Embden and Perham 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.