What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fayette has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

Gouldsboro has the most expensive homes ($277k median).

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	Fayette	Gouldsboro
People
Population	1,383Lowest	1,615Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	58.8±4.2Lowest 31% above ME	60.2±5.2Highest 34% above ME
	Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%	12.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Fayette and Gouldsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.2%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	38.8%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Fayette and Gouldsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,500±$17kLowest 20% below ME	$60,873±$7kHighest 19% below ME
	Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,600±$48kLowest 13% below ME	$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME
	Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$816Lowest 14% below ME	$1,298±$507Highest 14% above ME
	Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,160Highest 4% above ME	$2,305Lowest 24% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±43.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	80.8%±28.2Highest ME: 48.4%
	Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986 9 yrs newer than ME	1986 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 33% above ME	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	22.1%±7.1Highest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Fayette and Gouldsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Fayette Public Schools	RSU 24
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.