Compare towns
Islesboro vs Sutton vs Castine
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 min average).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Castine has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
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.
| Measure | Islesboro | Sutton | Castine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 636Lowest |
9,452Highest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±8.4Highest 47% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
21.2±0.7Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
47.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,438±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$113,750±$26k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,800±$140kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$603,500±$114kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Castine and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$252Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,105±$104 22% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,300 38% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,250Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±85.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±56Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castine and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 8 minLowest 71% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
14 min 46% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Islesboro 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sutton | Castine Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.