What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelsea has the most kids (23.3% under 18).

Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

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	Chelsea	Hallowell
People
Population	2,823Highest	2,592Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.2±3.6Lowest 6% below ME	50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME
	Hallowell and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Chelsea and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hallowell and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hallowell and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,471±$10kHighest 14% above ME	$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME
	Chelsea and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$182,300±$37kLowest 39% below ME	$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,373±$90Highest 21% above ME	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,313Lowest 24% below ME	$3,867Highest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	15%±19.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.1%±17.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hallowell and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 48% above ME	14 minLowest 43% below ME
Work from home	6%±3Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#93 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 12	RSU 02
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.