What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sabattus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

Fairfield has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

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	Sabattus	Fairfield
People
Population	5,116Lowest	6,519Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.2±4.6Highest 14% above ME	43.1±4Lowest 4% below ME
	Sabattus and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.8%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Fairfield and Sabattus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%	17.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Sabattus and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%	4%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Sabattus and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,387±$6kLowest 21% below ME	$64,101±$11kHighest 14% below ME
	Fairfield and Sabattus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$180,000±$39kHighest 39% below ME	$164,300±$28kLowest 45% below ME
	Sabattus and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$949±$23Lowest 17% below ME	$1,001±$101Highest 12% below ME
	Fairfield and Sabattus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,151Lowest 29% below ME	$2,217Highest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.7%±51Lowest ME: 48.4%	42.9%±12.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Fairfield and Sabattus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 21% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	21.5%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9%	12.1%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sabattus and Fairfield 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	#129 of 133 in ME	#47 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 04	RSU 49/MSAD 49 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences
High school in town	None in town	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.3
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.