What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deering has the oldest population (median age 48.8).

Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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	Deering	Jefferson
People
Population	1,938Lowest	2,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±5.7Highest 25% above U.S.	38.1±4.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	17.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	28%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,250±$16kHighest 25% above U.S.	$85,078±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Deering and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,900±$27kLowest 7% below U.S.	$311,600±$35kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,306±$116Highest 8% below U.S.	$1,120±$130Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Deering and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,223Highest 100% above U.S.	$2,587Lowest 17% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.9%±27.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	29.8%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	10%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Deering and Jefferson 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	—	#45 of 133 in ME
School district	—	Jefferson Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.