What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newcastle has the most kids (17.8% under 18).

Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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	Newcastle	Vinalhaven
People
Population	1,913Highest	1,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.4±7Lowest 10% above ME	65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%	11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Newcastle and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Newcastle and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,868±$33kHighest 20% above ME	$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average
	Newcastle and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,000±$41kLowest 34% above ME	$428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME
	Vinalhaven and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME	$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME
	Newcastle and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,256Highest 40% above ME	$3,598Lowest 19% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Vinalhaven and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	86.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 30% below ME	19 minHighest 24% below ME
Work from home	20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9%	19.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Newcastle and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.