Compare towns
Jefferson vs Waldoboro vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (8.9%).
Waldoboro has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Waldoboro | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647 |
5,253Highest |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Waldoboro 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% ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$69,107±$8kLowest 8% below ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
| Jefferson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$274,900±$39k 7% below ME |
$218,100±$41kLowest 26% below ME |
| Jefferson and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 15% below ME |
$2,861Highest 6% below ME |
$2,505Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville 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% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest 3% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jefferson and Waldoboro 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 | #55 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Medomak Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.