What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lamoine has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Beals has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

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	Lamoine	Beals
People
Population	1,782Highest	498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.6±7.3Highest 11% above ME	48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME
	Lamoine and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Beals and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Beals and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Beals and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,542±$15kHighest 18% above ME	$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME
	Lamoine and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$324,800±$43kHighest 10% above ME	$256,700±$45kLowest 13% below ME
	Lamoine and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$158Highest 3% above ME	$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME
	Lamoine and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,303Lowest 24% below ME	$2,580Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.3%±16.4Highest ME: 48.4%	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lamoine and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 11% below ME	21 minLowest 17% below ME
Work from home	21.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±10.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lamoine and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lamoine Public Schools	Beals Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.