Compare towns
Fryeburg vs Alstead vs Waldoboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fryeburg has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Waldoboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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.
| Measure | Fryeburg | Alstead | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,489 |
1,551Lowest |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.4 37% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
50.1±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waldoboro and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,076±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$69,107±$8kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Waldoboro and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,600±$30kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$274,900±$39kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Waldoboro and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $893±$85Highest 37% below U.S. |
— | $348±$153Lowest 75% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,928 6% below U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,861Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Fryeburg 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 | #103 of 133 in ME | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.