What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Newport has the most expensive homes ($235k 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	Lee	Newport
People
Population	925Lowest	3,143Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME	50.3±3.2Lowest 12% above ME
	Lee and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lee and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.8%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Newport and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	24.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Lee and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME	$60,365±$13kHighest 19% below ME
	Newport and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$174,500±$25kLowest 41% below ME	$234,800±$30kHighest 21% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$893±$104 22% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,547Lowest 49% below ME	$3,018Highest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	44.3%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lee and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	11.9%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	14.7%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Newport and Lee 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	—	#97 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 30/MSAD 30	RSU 19
High school in town	None in town	Nokomis Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.3
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.