What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).

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	Jefferson
People
Population	1,906Lowest	2,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.4±1.8Highest 8% above ME	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME
Kids under 18	17.5%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	27.9%±3Highest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Jefferson 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	$85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME
	Nobleboro and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,600±$45kHighest 19% above ME	$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME
	Nobleboro and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,099±$231Lowest 4% below ME	$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average
	Jefferson and Nobleboro 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	$2,587Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±32.2Highest ME: 48.4%	29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Nobleboro and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 17% below ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	5.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Jefferson and Nobleboro 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	—	#45 of 133 in ME
School district	Nobleboro Public Schools	Jefferson Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.