What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bangor has the most expensive homes ($220k median).

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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	Bangor	Waterville
People
Population	31,938Highest	17,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±1.3Highest 8% below ME	35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME
Kids under 18	16.7%±1.7Highest ME: 18.1%	14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bangor and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bangor and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.4%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,942±$7kHighest 20% below ME	$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME
	Bangor and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,600±$10kHighest 26% below ME	$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,055±$43Highest 7% below ME	$978±$72Lowest 14% below ME
	Bangor and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,076Highest about the ME average	$2,755Lowest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±6.5Highest ME: 48.4%	50.5%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Bangor and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	20.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	48.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME	1959Highest 18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 33% below ME	18 minHighest 27% below ME
Work from home	10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Waterville and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#37 of 133 in ME	#105 of 133 in ME
School district	Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4	Waterville Public Schools
High school in town	Bangor High School	Waterville Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.