What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nobleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

Beals has the most people working from home (17.6%).

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	Nobleboro	Beals
People
Population	1,906Highest	498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.4±1.8Highest 8% above ME	48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME
	Nobleboro and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1%	16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Nobleboro and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Beals and Nobleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Beals and Nobleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,417±$14kHighest 34% above ME	$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,600±$45kHighest 19% above ME	$256,700±$45kLowest 13% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,099±$231Highest 4% below ME	$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME
	Nobleboro and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,049Highest about the ME average	$2,580Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±32.2Highest ME: 48.4%	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Nobleboro and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 17% below ME	21 minHighest 17% below ME
Work from home	5.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Beals and Nobleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Nobleboro Public Schools	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.