Compare towns
Islesboro vs Upton 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 most affordable homes ($289k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Upton | Castine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 636Lowest |
8,189Highest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±8.4Highest 47% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
21.2±0.7Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Islesboro and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 40.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
47.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,438±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$113,750±$26k 41% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$603,500±$114kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Castine and Upton 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. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,105±$104Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Castine and Upton 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,250Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±85.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±56Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castine and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% 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. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
14 min 46% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Castine Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.