What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most affordable homes ($111k median).

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	Calais	Somerville
People
Population	3,097Highest	837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.8±5.1Highest about the ME average	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME
	Calais and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	24.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4%	13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Calais and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,096±$10kLowest 14% below ME	$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME
	Somerville and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$111,100±$36kLowest 63% below ME	$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,010±$199Lowest 11% below ME	$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,684Lowest 45% below ME	$2,505Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	17%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 35% below ME	27 minHighest 9% above ME
Work from home	2.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	3.9%±2.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Somerville and Calais 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	#48 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Calais Public Schools	RSU 12
High school in town	Calais Middle/High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0	—
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.