What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castine has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).

Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Castine	Winthrop
People
Population	1,362Lowest	6,191Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME	43.6±5.3Highest about the ME average
Kids under 18	9.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	19.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	23.4%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Winthrop and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	74.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	40%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$26kHighest 52% above ME	$86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME
	Castine and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$114kHighest 103% above ME	$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$104Highest about the ME average	$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME
	Castine and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,250Highest 40% above ME	$3,506Lowest 15% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±56Highest ME: 48.4%	50.8%±22.4Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Castine and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 42% below ME	35 minHighest 41% above ME
Work from home	11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Winthrop and Castine 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	—	#12 of 133 in ME
School district	Castine Public Schools	Winthrop Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Winthrop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
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.