What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

Manchester has the most homeowners (85%).

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	Hallowell	Manchester
People
Population	2,592Highest	2,424Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME	46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME
	Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	19%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Manchester and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%	22.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	47.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME	$92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME
	Manchester and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average	$299,600±$40kHighest about the ME average
	Manchester and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME	$993±$116Highest 13% below ME
	Manchester and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,867Highest 27% above ME	$3,486Lowest 15% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±17.9Highest ME: 48.4%	30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 43% below ME	20 minHighest 19% below ME
Work from home	19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9%	11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 02	RSU 38
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.