What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thomaston has the most kids (19.2% 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	Hallowell	Thomaston
People
Population	2,592Lowest	2,769Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.3±7.9Lowest 12% above ME	58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME
	Thomaston and Hallowell 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%	19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Thomaston and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.2%±7.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Thomaston and Hallowell 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%	30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hallowell and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,398±$10kHighest 8% below ME	$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME
	Hallowell and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average	$271,700±$10kLowest 8% below ME
	Hallowell and Thomaston 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	$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME
	Thomaston and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,867Lowest 27% above ME	$4,487Highest 48% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Thomaston and Hallowell 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%	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	73.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME	1951Highest 26 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minHighest 43% below ME	14 minLowest 45% below ME
Work from home	19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9%	4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#99 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 02	RSU 13
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.