What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

Van Buren has the most people working from home (8.3%).

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	Rumford	Van Buren
People
Population	4,067Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.3±3.8Lowest 17% above ME	56±3.2Highest 25% above ME
	Van Buren and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.6%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Van Buren and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.1%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	35.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Van Buren and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	10.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Rumford and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$29,230±$5kLowest 61% below ME	$40,170±$4kHighest 46% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$123,200±$19kHighest 58% below ME	$97,700±$24kLowest 67% below ME
	Rumford and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$785±$109Highest 31% below ME	$733±$141Lowest 36% below ME
	Rumford and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,827Highest 40% below ME	$1,415Lowest 53% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±11.8Highest ME: 48.4%	40.7%±11Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Rumford and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	30%Highest ME: 10.7%	23%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	64.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 35 yrs older than ME	1958Highest 19 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	15 minLowest 40% below ME
Work from home	3.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.3%±5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Van Buren and Rumford 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	#126 of 133 in ME	—
School district	—	RSU 88/MSAD 24
High school in town	—	Van Buren District Secondary Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.3
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.