What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sherman has the most kids (33.4% under 18).

Patten has the oldest population (median age 56.1).

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	Sherman	Patten
People
Population	947Highest	607Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	33.4±8.6Lowest 25% below ME	56.1±5.8Highest 25% above ME
Kids under 18	33.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	16.5%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	21.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	32.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	30.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.3%±0.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.6%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Patten and Sherman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,444±$7kHighest 34% below ME	$45,750±$19kLowest 39% below ME
	Sherman and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$115,200±$14kHighest 61% below ME	$83,000±$51kLowest 72% below ME
	Sherman and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$672±$329Highest 41% below ME	$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME
	Sherman and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,328Highest 56% below ME	$857Lowest 72% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±77.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	56%±58.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Sherman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	37.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	28.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1955Lowest 22 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 11% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	28.2%±12.1Highest ME: 15.9%	24.3%±24.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sherman and Patten 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.