What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

Bucksport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).

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	Oakland	Bucksport
People
Population	6,309Highest	5,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME	42.7±12.2Highest 5% below ME
	Bucksport and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	17.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Oakland and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.6%±7.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bucksport and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	27.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	2.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Oakland and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above ME	$64,720±$21kLowest 13% below ME
	Oakland and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME	$252,300±$32kHighest 15% below ME
	Bucksport and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$939±$74Highest 18% below ME	$882±$92Lowest 23% below ME
	Oakland and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,439Highest 20% below ME	$2,021Lowest 33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4%	48.9%±17Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Oakland and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% above ME	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bucksport and Oakland 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	#23 of 133 in ME	#68 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 18	RSU 25
High school in town	Messalonskee High School	Bucksport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	13.1Lowest
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.