What stands out worked out from the figures below

St. Francis has the most expensive homes ($121k median).

Bingham has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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	St. Francis	Bingham
People
Population	400Lowest	660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-6.1% ME: +2.6%
Median age	59.1±4.8Highest 32% above ME	56±8.2Lowest 25% above ME
	St. Francis and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.6%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Bingham and St. Francis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.8%±8.7Highest ME: 22.4%	38.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	St. Francis and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	22.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±3Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Bingham and St. Francis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$32,188±$15kLowest 57% below ME	$42,708±$22kHighest 43% below ME
	Bingham and St. Francis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$120,800±$72kHighest 59% below ME	$103,000±$26kLowest 65% below ME
	St. Francis and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$618±$154Highest 46% below ME	$354±$264Lowest 69% below ME
	St. Francis and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,098Highest 64% below ME	$1,059Lowest 65% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±40.8Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±45.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	St. Francis and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	16.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 10 yrs older than ME	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	48 minHighest 97% above ME	28 minLowest 13% above ME
Work from home	6.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.8%±6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bingham and St. Francis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 83/MSAD 13
High school in town	—	Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.3
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.