Compare towns
Rockland vs Thomaston vs Paris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rockland has the most people working from home (22.1%).
Thomaston has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Paris has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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.
| Measure | Rockland | Thomaston | Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,035Highest |
2,769Lowest |
5,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±6 10% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
| Thomaston and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.9% ME: 36.2% |
28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,533±$6k 24% below ME |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$75,137±$20kHighest about the ME average |
| Paris and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$38k 17% below ME |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$240,400±$57kLowest 19% below ME |
| Thomaston and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,092±$105Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
— |
| Thomaston and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,059 34% above ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$2,649Lowest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±15.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Paris and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 29 yrs older than ME |
1951 26 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 12 minLowest 50% below ME |
14 min 45% below ME |
22 minHighest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Rockland and Paris 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 | #96 of 133 in ME | #99 of 133 in ME | #114 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | RSU 13 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | Oceanside High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.