What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

Pownal has the most kids (24.2% 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	Scarborough	Pownal
People
Population	23,215Highest	1,696Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±2.7Highest 9% above ME	47.2±8.4Lowest 5% above ME
	Scarborough and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±2Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	24.7%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4%	23.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Scarborough and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	49%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Scarborough and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME	$104,333±$14kLowest 40% above ME
	Scarborough and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$551,900±$39kHighest 86% above ME	$436,800±$32kLowest 47% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME	$981±$636Lowest 14% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Highest 97% above ME	$5,212Lowest 72% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.9%±13.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Pownal and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	5.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 21% below ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	24.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	23.9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Scarborough and Pownal 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	#35 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Scarborough Public Schools	RSU 05
High school in town	Scarborough High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
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.