What stands out worked out from the figures below

Islesboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).

Castine has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Islesboro	Castine
People
Population	636Lowest	1,362Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	57±8.4Highest 27% above ME	21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME
Kids under 18	11.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1%	9.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Islesboro and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4%	19.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	74.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,438±$44kLowest 18% above ME	$113,750±$26kHighest 52% above ME
	Castine and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,800±$140kLowest about the ME average	$603,500±$114kHighest 103% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$938±$252Lowest 18% below ME	$1,105±$104Highest about the ME average
	Castine and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,300Highest 42% above ME	$4,250Lowest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.8%±85.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	60.3%±56Highest ME: 48.4%
	Castine and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	14.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974 3 yrs older than ME	1974 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	8 minLowest 69% below ME	14 minHighest 42% below ME
Work from home	20.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9%	11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Islesboro and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Castine Public Schools
High school 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.