What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Presque Isle has the most renters (42.2% rent).

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	Presque Isle
People
Population	7,382Lowest	8,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.3±1.7Highest 15% above ME	44.1±3.5Lowest about the ME average
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	18%±3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Presque Isle and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4%	22.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Caribou and Presque Isle 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%	26.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,709±$9kLowest 28% below ME	$55,768±$6kHighest 25% below ME
	Presque Isle 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	$147,200±$11kHighest 50% below ME
	Presque Isle and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$757±$143Lowest 34% below ME	$904±$54Highest 21% below ME
	Presque Isle and Caribou 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	$2,401Highest 21% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.3%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	47.3%±9.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Presque Isle and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5% ME: 10.7%	15.5% ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	57.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME	1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minHighest 40% below ME	14 minLowest 41% below ME
Work from home	12.5%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Caribou and Presque Isle 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	#59 of 133 in ME	#62 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 39	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	Caribou High School	Presque Isle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	13.7Lowest
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.