What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakland has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% 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	Oakland	Chesterville
People
Population	6,309Highest	1,397Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.2±6.9Highest 10% below ME	37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME
	Oakland and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.8%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Chesterville and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4%	15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Oakland and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Oakland and Chesterville 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	$61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME
	Oakland and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME	$214,000±$40kLowest 28% below ME
	Oakland and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$939±$74Lowest 18% below ME	$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,439Highest 20% below ME	$2,194Lowest 28% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4%	21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Oakland and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	12%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	86.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 8% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	8.4%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Oakland and Chesterville 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	—
School district	RSU 18	—
High school in town	Messalonskee High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2	—
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.