What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

Jefferson has the most people working from home (8.9%).

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	Somerville	Jefferson
People
Population	837Lowest	2,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME	38.1±4.9Highest 15% below ME
	Jefferson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%	28%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Jefferson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	27.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Jefferson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,250±$15kLowest 5% below ME	$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME
	Jefferson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,100±$41kLowest 26% below ME	$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME	$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,505Lowest 17% below ME	$2,587Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%	29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Jefferson and Somerville 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	—	#45 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 12	Jefferson Public Schools
High school in town	None 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.