What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has the most homeowners (85%).

Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

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	Manchester	Hallowell
People
Population	2,424Lowest	2,592Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME	50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME
	Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Manchester and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME	$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME
	Manchester and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$299,600±$40kHighest about the ME average	$295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average
	Manchester and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$116Highest 13% below ME	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME
	Manchester and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,486Lowest 15% above ME	$3,867Highest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.1%±17.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85%Highest ME: 74.3%	58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 19% below ME	14 minLowest 43% below ME
Work from home	11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 38	RSU 02
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.