What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

Raymond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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	Raymond
People
Population	1,938Lowest	4,610Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±5.7Highest 25% above U.S.	47.3±4.1Lowest 22% above U.S.
	Deering and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Raymond and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Deering and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Raymond 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.	$88,194±$20kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Deering and Raymond 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.	$395,800±$42kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,306±$116Highest 8% below U.S.	$965±$397Lowest 32% below U.S.
	Deering and Raymond 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.	$3,139Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.9%±27.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.3%±62.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Raymond 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%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	37 minLowest 40% above U.S.
Work from home	10%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.3%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#112 of 133 in ME
School district	—	RSU 14
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.