What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norridgewock has the most affordable homes ($152k median).

Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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	Norridgewock	Mercer
People
Population	3,288Highest	718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.3±11Highest 12% above ME	43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME
	Norridgewock and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.5%±5Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mercer and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mercer and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Norridgewock and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,579±$19kLowest 18% below ME	$71,107±$2kHighest 5% below ME
	Mercer and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$151,900±$52kLowest 49% below ME	$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,063±$588Lowest 7% below ME	$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME
	Mercer and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,462Lowest 52% below ME	$1,970Highest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4%	18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Norridgewock and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 10% below ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9%	20.5%±8.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Norridgewock and Mercer 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	#91 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 54/MSAD 54	—
High school 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.