What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Gloucester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Beals has the most affordable homes ($257k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	New Gloucester	Beals
People
Population	5,766Highest	498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME	48±15.6Highest 7% above ME
	Beals and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%	16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	New Gloucester and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Beals and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME	$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME	$256,700±$45kLowest 13% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$249Highest about the ME average	$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME
	New Gloucester and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,417Highest 13% above ME	$2,580Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.7%±12Highest ME: 48.4%	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	New Gloucester and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% above ME	21 minLowest 17% below ME
Work from home	14.2%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Beals and New Gloucester 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	#65 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 15/MSAD 15	Beals Public Schools
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.