What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Thomaston has the most expensive homes ($341k median).

Caribou has the most affordable homes ($134k 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	South Thomaston	Caribou
People
Population	1,381Lowest	7,382Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.3±11.3Highest 21% above ME	51.3±1.7Lowest 15% above ME
	South Thomaston and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Caribou and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.8%±8.7Highest ME: 22.4%	27.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	South Thomaston and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9%±9.1Highest ME: 5.8%	2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	South Thomaston and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,838±$7kHighest 16% above ME	$53,709±$9kLowest 28% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$341,300±$37kHighest 15% above ME	$134,100±$31kLowest 55% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$925±$633Highest 19% below ME	$757±$143Lowest 34% below ME
	South Thomaston and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,442Highest 13% above ME	$1,680Lowest 45% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.6%±43.5Highest ME: 48.4%	45.3%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Thomaston and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minHighest 36% below ME	15 minLowest 40% below ME
Work from home	8.3%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%	12.5%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Caribou and South Thomaston 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	—	#59 of 133 in ME
School district	—	RSU 39
High school in town	—	Caribou High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.2
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.