What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buckfield has the most people working from home (15.6%).

Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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	Buckfield	Somerville
People
Population	2,403Highest	837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±10.1Highest 16% below ME	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME
	Buckfield and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.7%±7.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Somerville and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±2.7 ME: 22.4%	13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME	$71,250±$15kLowest 5% below ME
	Buckfield and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME	$218,100±$41kLowest 26% below ME
	Buckfield and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME	$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,860Highest 6% below ME	$2,505Lowest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 25% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	15.6%±12.5Highest ME: 15.9%	3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Buckfield and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 10	RSU 12
High school in town	Buckfield Jr-Sr High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.