What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Monticello has the most expensive homes ($126k median).

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	Monticello
People
Population	326Lowest	674Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-6.7% ME: +2.6%
Median age	53±12.9Highest 18% above ME	52.7±6Lowest 18% above ME
	Perham and Monticello 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%	13.8%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Perham and Monticello 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%	28.2%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Monticello 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%	9.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8%	2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME	$51,875±$13kLowest 31% below ME
	Perham and Monticello 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	$125,800±$36kHighest 58% below ME
	Monticello and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$833±$434 27% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,641Highest 46% below ME	$1,200Lowest 60% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.5%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Monticello and Perham 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%	19.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 1 yr older than ME	1976 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	8.4%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Perham and Monticello 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.