What stands out worked out from the figures below

Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% under 18).

Porter 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	Parsonsfield	Porter
People
Population	1,715Lowest	1,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.3±5.9Highest about the ME average	40.9±7.9Lowest 9% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	16.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Parsonsfield and Porter 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%	20.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Porter and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	14%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Porter and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,045±$18kHighest 4% below ME	$60,417±$9kLowest 19% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Porter 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	$226,100±$20kLowest 24% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,185±$312 4% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,350Highest 23% below ME	$1,841Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4%	43.9%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Parsonsfield and Porter 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%	9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	48 minHighest 97% above ME	32 minLowest 30% above ME
Work from home	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.5%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9%
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.