What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Woolwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).

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	Manchester	Woolwich
People
Population	2,424Lowest	3,158Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-0.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME	55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME
	Woolwich 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%	15%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Manchester and Woolwich 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%	33.9%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Woolwich 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%	52.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Manchester and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,031±$16kLowest 23% above ME	$102,175±$26kHighest 37% above ME
	Woolwich and Manchester 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	$254,500±$59kLowest 14% below ME
	Manchester and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$116 13% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,486Highest 15% above ME	$2,433Lowest 20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	64.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Woolwich 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%	13.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 19% below ME	29 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	11.9%±5.7 ME: 15.9%	11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#92 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 38	RSU 01 - LKRSU
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.