What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nobleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

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	Nobleboro
People
Population	2,647Highest	1,906Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME	48.4±1.8Highest 8% above ME
Kids under 18	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	17.5%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.9%±3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	4.1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Jefferson and Nobleboro 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	$100,417±$14kHighest 34% above ME
	Nobleboro 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	$352,600±$45kHighest 19% above ME
	Nobleboro and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average	$1,099±$231Lowest 4% below ME
	Jefferson and Nobleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,587Lowest 15% below ME	$3,049Highest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	51.3%±32.2Highest ME: 48.4%
	Nobleboro and Jefferson 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%	10.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	20 minLowest 17% below ME
Work from home	8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%	5.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Jefferson and Nobleboro 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	#45 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Jefferson Public Schools	Nobleboro 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.