What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).

Minerva has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.4%).

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	Wheelock	Minerva
People
Population	717Lowest	836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51±5.6Lowest 31% above U.S.	56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S.
	Minerva and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Minerva and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Minerva and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S.	$67,303±$9kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Minerva and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$189,600±$37kHighest 43% below U.S.	$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S.
	Wheelock and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$784±$102 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,937Highest 6% below U.S.	$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Minerva and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wheelock and Minerva 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

U.S. 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.