Compare towns
Casco vs Needham vs Deer Isle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Casco has the most homeowners (90%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Deer Isle has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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.
| Measure | Casco | Needham | Deer Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,696 |
32,459Highest |
2,470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52±3.3 34% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.6±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Deer Isle and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Casco and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,313±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$62,284±$15kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$58k 7% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$308,300±$42kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$184Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,909±$927 35% above U.S. |
| Needham and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,085 about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,890Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±35.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.4%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.6%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Casco 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Needham | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
8.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.