What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the youngest population (median age 39.4).

New Gloucester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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	Holderness	New Gloucester
People
Population	1,917Lowest	5,766Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average	40.1±5.5Highest 3% above U.S.
	New Gloucester and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	New Gloucester and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	New Gloucester and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kLowest 34% above U.S.	$108,797±$12kHighest 35% above U.S.
	New Gloucester and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kHighest 9% above U.S.	$357,100±$29kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Holderness and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S.	$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,923Highest 26% above U.S.	$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	24.7%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	New Gloucester and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	New Gloucester and Holderness 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	—	#65 of 133 in ME
School district	Holderness School District	RSU 15/MSAD 15
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.