What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bucksport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).

Oakland has the most kids (23.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bucksport	Oakland
People
Population	5,016Lowest	6,309Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.7±12.2Highest 5% below ME	40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME
	Bucksport and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Oakland and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.6%±7.7Highest ME: 22.4%	18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bucksport and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Oakland and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,720±$21kLowest 13% below ME	$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above ME
	Oakland and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,300±$32kHighest 15% below ME	$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME
	Bucksport and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$882±$92Lowest 23% below ME	$939±$74Highest 18% below ME
	Oakland and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,021Lowest 33% below ME	$2,439Highest 20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±17Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Oakland and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 15% above ME	27 minLowest 8% above ME
Work from home	10.1%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bucksport and Oakland 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	#68 of 133 in ME	#23 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 25	RSU 18
High school in town	Bucksport High School	Messalonskee High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	14.2Highest
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.