Compare towns
Beals vs Stoneham vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beals has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
Whiting has the most kids (17.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Beals | Stoneham | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 498 |
271Lowest |
506Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.8% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME |
60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
50±5 12% above ME |
| Stoneham and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Whiting and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% ME: 36.2% |
37.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME |
$63,750±$27k 15% below ME |
$55,263±$2kLowest 26% below ME |
| Beals and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME |
$226,200±$32k 24% below ME |
$214,200±$52kLowest 28% below ME |
| Beals and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $907±$378 20% below ME |
$1,125±$383Highest about the ME average |
$600±$333Lowest 47% below ME |
| Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,580Highest 15% below ME |
$1,426Lowest 53% below ME |
$1,728 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Stoneham and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 17% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Stoneham and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Beals Public Schools | — | Whiting Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.