What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lovell has the highest household income ($81k).

Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

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	Lovell	Waterford
People
Population	1,353Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+1.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.2±3.5Lowest 17% above ME	54.3±1.6Highest 21% above ME
	Waterford and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1%	12.9%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lovell and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.7%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Waterford and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Lovell and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,625±$20kHighest 8% above ME	$66,071±$17kLowest 12% below ME
	Lovell and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,000±$47kHighest about the ME average	$273,800±$36kLowest 8% below ME
	Lovell and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME	$870±$405Lowest 24% below ME
	Lovell and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,480Lowest 51% below ME	$1,917Highest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.3%±29.3Highest ME: 48.4%	36.6%±34Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lovell and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 28% above ME	34 minHighest 40% above ME
Work from home	21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9%	18.8%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lovell and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 72/MSAD 72	RSU 17/MSAD 17
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.