Compare towns
Naples vs Bethel vs Wiscasset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Naples has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Bethel has the most people working from home (27.7%).
Wiscasset has the most affordable homes ($325k 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.
| Measure | Naples | Bethel | Wiscasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,985Highest |
2,617Lowest |
3,874 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.8 11% above ME |
50.2±6.4Highest 12% above ME |
48.8±6.3Lowest 9% above ME |
| Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.3%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
28%±6.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bethel and Wiscasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,188±$13kHighest 5% above ME |
$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME |
$71,118±$37k 5% below ME |
| Naples and Wiscasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$48k 15% above ME |
$344,900±$37kHighest 16% above ME |
$325,200±$26kLowest 10% above ME |
| Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME |
$1,518±$485 33% above ME |
| Naples and Wiscasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,784Lowest 8% below ME |
$2,835 7% below ME |
$3,550Highest 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
23.6%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Naples and Wiscasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
26 min 5% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±11.8 ME: 15.9% |
27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.4%±10.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bethel and Naples 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #49 of 133 in ME | #108 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | RSU 44/MSAD 44 | Wiscasset Public Schools |
| High school in town | Lake Region High School | Telstar High School | Wiscasset Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.3 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.