What stands out worked out from the figures below

Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).

Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).

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	Searsmont	Starks
People
Population	1,646Highest	556Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average	46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME
	Starks and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Starks and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4%	20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Searsmont and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	21%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%	0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME	$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME
	Searsmont and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME	$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME	$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME
	Starks and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,788Highest 8% below ME	$1,348Lowest 56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±41.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Starks and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	90%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988 11 yrs newer than ME	1988 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	33 minHighest 33% above ME
Work from home	16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9%	3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 71	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.