What stands out worked out from the figures below

Industry has the most kids (24.4% under 18).

New Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Industry	New Sharon
People
Population	988Lowest	1,550Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.6±10.7Lowest 9% below ME	43.9±8.9Highest about the ME average
	New Sharon and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1%	20%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Industry and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±6.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	23.8%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	New Sharon and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	New Sharon and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,056±$19kLowest 16% below ME	$63,889±$21kHighest 15% below ME
	New Sharon and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$205,600±$31kHighest 31% below ME	$171,200±$21kLowest 42% below ME
	Industry and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,049±$137Highest 8% below ME	$961±$55Lowest 16% below ME
	Industry and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,793Lowest 41% below ME	$1,889Highest 38% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.9%±38.2Highest ME: 48.4%	61%±38Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Industry and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 67% above ME	30 minLowest 23% above ME
Work from home	7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.7%±2.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	New Sharon and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 09
High school 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.