What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).

Lamoine has the most people working from home (21.4%).

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	Jefferson	Lamoine
People
Population	2,647Highest	1,782Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME	49.6±7.3Highest 11% above ME
	Lamoine and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	15%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	25.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Lamoine and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Jefferson and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME	$88,542±$15kHighest 18% above ME
	Lamoine and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME	$324,800±$43kHighest 10% above ME
	Lamoine and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average	$1,174±$158Highest 3% above ME
	Lamoine and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,587Highest 15% below ME	$2,303Lowest 24% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.8%±25.1Highest ME: 48.4%	23.3%±16.4Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Jefferson and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	22 minLowest 11% below ME
Work from home	8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#45 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Jefferson Public Schools	Lamoine Public Schools
High school in town	None 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.