What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newry has the oldest population (median age 61.1).

Bethel has the most people working from home (27.7%).

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	Newry	Bethel
People
Population	177Lowest	2,617Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4% ME: +2.6%
Median age	61.1±5Highest 36% above ME	50.2±6.4Lowest 12% above ME
	Newry and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.6%±12.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Bethel and Newry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.4%±14.1Highest ME: 22.4%	29.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Newry and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Bethel and Newry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,000±$23kHighest 10% below ME	$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME
	Newry and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$307,700±$69kLowest 4% above ME	$344,900±$37kHighest 16% above ME
	Bethel and Newry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$666Highest about the ME average	$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME
	Newry and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,438Lowest 20% below ME	$2,835Highest 7% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Newry and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986 9 yrs newer than ME	1986 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	26 minHighest 5% above ME
Work from home	11.8%±9.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bethel and Newry 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	—	#49 of 133 in ME
School district	—	RSU 44/MSAD 44
High school in town	—	Telstar High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.3
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.