What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southport has the highest household income ($89k).

Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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	Southport	Vinalhaven
People
Population	550Lowest	1,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	66.3±5.9Highest 48% above ME	65.1±3.9Lowest 45% above ME
	Southport and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	11.2%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Vinalhaven and Southport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	51.8%±4Highest ME: 22.4%	50.4%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Southport and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	45.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Vinalhaven and Southport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,000±$17kHighest 19% above ME	$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average
	Southport and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$495,800±$163kHighest 67% above ME	$428,400±$44kLowest 44% above ME
	Southport and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,094±$109Highest 4% below ME	$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME
	Southport and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,854Lowest 39% below ME	$3,598Highest 19% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	93.1%±69.8Highest ME: 48.4%	53.6%±41.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Southport and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	86.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME	1966Highest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% above ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	13.4%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Vinalhaven and Southport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Southport Public Schools	—
High school 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.