What stands out worked out from the figures below

Searsmont has the highest household income ($87k).

Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k 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	Wade
People
Population	1,646Highest	244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average	53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME
	Wade 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%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wade and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	33.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME	$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME	$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME
	Searsmont and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$940±$311 17% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,788Highest 8% below ME	$1,655Lowest 45% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Searsmont and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	34 minHighest 37% above ME
Work from home	16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Searsmont and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.