What stands out worked out from the figures below

Parsonsfield has the most expensive homes ($272k median).

Chapman has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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	Parsonsfield	Chapman
People
Population	1,715Highest	388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.6% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	44.3±5.9Lowest about the ME average	45.7±11.4Highest about the ME average
	Chapman and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Chapman and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	22.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,045±$18kLowest 4% below ME	$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME
	Chapman and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME	$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,185±$312 4% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,350Highest 23% below ME	$1,850Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Parsonsfield and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	94.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	48 minHighest 97% above ME	23 minLowest 6% below ME
Work from home	5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Parsonsfield and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.