What stands out worked out from the figures below

Poland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 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	Poland	Hallowell
People
Population	5,954Highest	2,592Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+7.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.2±9.4Lowest about the ME average	50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME
	Hallowell and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Poland and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hallowell and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,557±$23kHighest 14% above ME	$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME
	Poland and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$283,600±$44kLowest 4% below ME	$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average
	Hallowell and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,774Lowest 9% below ME	$3,867Highest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4%	37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Poland and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	14 minLowest 43% below ME
Work from home	21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9%	19.8%±8.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Poland and Hallowell 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	#81 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 16	RSU 02
High school in town	Poland Regional H S	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
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.