What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Naples has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

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	Bethel	Naples
People
Population	2,617Lowest	3,985Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+1.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.2±6.4Highest 12% above ME	49.8±6.8Lowest 11% above ME
	Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.3%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4%	23.3%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	37.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.9 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME	$78,188±$13kHighest 5% above ME
	Naples and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$344,900±$37kHighest 16% above ME	$340,100±$48kLowest 15% above ME
	Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME	$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,835Highest 7% below ME	$2,784Lowest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Naples and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 5% above ME	38 minHighest 56% above ME
Work from home	27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9%	26.7%±11.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bethel and Naples 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	#49 of 133 in ME	#118 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 44/MSAD 44	RSU 61/MSAD 61
High school in town	Telstar High School	Lake Region High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.7Highest
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.