What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).

Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Newfields	Thomaston
People
Population	2,023Lowest	2,769Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.	58.1±6.6Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Thomaston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$56,435±$13kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$271,700±$10kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,262±$343Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Newfields and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,487Lowest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.5%±23.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thomaston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	14 minLowest 48% below U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#99 of 133 in ME
School district	Newfields School District	RSU 13
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.