What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shapleigh has the most people working from home (13%).

Newfield has the oldest population (median age 52.8).

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	Shapleigh	Newfield
People
Population	2,976Highest	1,580Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.9±10Lowest 5% above ME	52.8±8.1Highest 18% above ME
	Newfield and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Shapleigh and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.9%±6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Newfield and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Shapleigh and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,140±$9kHighest 18% above ME	$57,188±$20kLowest 23% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,000±$21kHighest 20% above ME	$318,100±$27kLowest 7% above ME
	Shapleigh and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,349±$133 18% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,603Highest 14% below ME	$2,402Lowest 21% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.3%±61.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Newfield and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 32% above ME	49 minHighest 98% above ME
Work from home	13%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%	6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Shapleigh and Newfield 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	#76 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.