What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooksville has the oldest population (median age 61.4).

Castine has the highest household income ($114k).

Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Brooksville	Castine
People
Population	853Lowest	1,362Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	61.4±6.3Highest 37% above ME	21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME
Kids under 18	13%±2.9Highest ME: 18.1%	9.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Brooksville and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	41.6%±10.6Highest ME: 22.4%	19.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	74.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,316±$20kLowest 25% below ME	$113,750±$26kHighest 52% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,900±$113kLowest 32% above ME	$603,500±$114kHighest 103% above ME
	Castine and Brooksville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,307±$68Highest 15% above ME	$1,105±$104Lowest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,945Lowest 36% below ME	$4,250Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.9%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	60.3%±56Highest ME: 48.4%
	Castine and Brooksville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	14.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 15% below ME	14 minLowest 42% below ME
Work from home	16.7%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Brooksville and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Brooksville Public Schools	Castine Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.