What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fort Fairfield has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Wilton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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	Fort Fairfield	Wilton
People
Population	3,309Lowest	3,862Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.7±6.6Highest 11% above ME	46.1±6.6Lowest about the ME average
	Fort Fairfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.5%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wilton and Fort Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.9%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4%	27%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Fort Fairfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest ME: 36.2%	31.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Wilton and Fort Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,852±$16kHighest 5% below ME	$63,396±$23kLowest 15% below ME
	Fort Fairfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,000±$27kLowest 46% below ME	$202,000±$30kHighest 32% below ME
	Wilton and Fort Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$738Highest 17% below ME	$446±$274Lowest 61% below ME
	Fort Fairfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,838Lowest 39% below ME	$2,344Highest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.6%±77.5Highest ME: 48.4%	52.5%±31.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Fort Fairfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	14.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 30% below ME	28 minHighest 14% above ME
Work from home	8.9%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	13.1%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wilton and Fort Fairfield 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	#72 of 133 in ME	#121 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 86/MSAD 20	RSU 09
High school in town	Fort Fairfield Middle/High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.