What stands out worked out from the figures below

Caribou has the most people working from home (12.5%).

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.6%).

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	Caribou	Lincoln
People
Population	7,382Highest	4,890Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-4.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.3±1.7Lowest 15% above ME	52.4±3.4Highest 17% above ME
	Lincoln and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%	11.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Caribou and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4%	32.1%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Lincoln and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	20.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Lincoln and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,709±$9kLowest 28% below ME	$56,089±$15kHighest 25% below ME
	Lincoln and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$134,100±$31kLowest 55% below ME	$141,500±$40kHighest 52% below ME
	Lincoln and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$757±$143Highest 34% below ME	$658±$28Lowest 42% below ME
	Caribou and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,680Lowest 45% below ME	$1,860Highest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.3%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	61.3%±34.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Lincoln and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	72.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 40% below ME	24 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	12.5%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#59 of 133 in ME	#94 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 39	Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67
High school in town	Caribou High School	Mattanawcook Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	11.8Lowest
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.