What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Island Falls has the oldest population (median age 50.7).

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	Temple	Island Falls
People
Population	824Highest	768Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	34±14Lowest 24% below ME	50.7±10.6Highest 13% above ME
	Island Falls and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	32.8%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1%	20.7%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Temple and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±6.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	12.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Island Falls and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,087±$2kLowest 25% below ME	$56,328±$8kHighest 25% below ME
	Island Falls and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$210,200±$79kHighest 29% below ME	$108,300±$25kLowest 63% below ME
	Temple and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME	$636±$124Lowest 44% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,367Highest 22% below ME	$1,720Lowest 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.3%±70.5Highest ME: 48.4%	17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Temple and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	20.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 11 yrs older than ME	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 37% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	7.5%±8.4Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Temple and Island Falls 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.