What stands out worked out from the figures below

Limestone has the highest household income ($50k).

Machias has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.2%).

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	Limestone	Machias
People
Population	1,579Lowest	2,020Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.3±4.9Highest about the ME average	40.8±9.6Lowest 9% below ME
	Limestone and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%	15.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Limestone and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%	20.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Limestone and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	16%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	12.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Machias and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,938±$8kHighest 33% below ME	$34,375±$16kLowest 54% below ME
	Limestone and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME	$141,300±$17kHighest 52% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$754±$233Highest 34% below ME	$692±$276Lowest 39% below ME
	Limestone and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,332Lowest 56% below ME	$1,885Highest 38% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32%±12.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	58.9%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Machias and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	25.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	49.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 24% below ME	16 minLowest 33% below ME
Work from home	14.5%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9%	12.7%±9.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Limestone and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools	Machias Public Schools
High school in town	ME Sch of Science & Mathematics	Machias Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	10.4Highest
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.