What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the oldest population (median age 43.8).

Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).

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	Thorndike
People
Population	3,097Highest	1,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.8±5.1Highest about the ME average	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
	Calais and Thorndike 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%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	24.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,096±$10kLowest 14% below ME	$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME
	Thorndike 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	$205,600±$88kHighest 31% below ME
	Thorndike and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,010±$199Highest 11% below ME	$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME
	Calais and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,684Lowest 45% below ME	$2,537Highest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Calais and Thorndike 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%	6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 35% below ME	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	2.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Calais Public Schools	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	Calais Middle/High School	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	11.7Lowest
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.