What stands out worked out from the figures below

Standish has the most people working from home (13.6%).

Waterboro has the most kids (22.5% under 18).

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	Standish	Waterboro
People
Population	10,662Highest	8,055Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME	42±3.1Highest 6% below ME
	Waterboro and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Waterboro and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4%	14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Standish and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME	$89,392±$16kLowest 20% above ME
	Standish and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,000±$18kHighest 13% above ME	$297,000±$23kLowest about the ME average
	Standish and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME	$1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME
	Waterboro and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Highest about the ME average	$2,772Lowest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4%	50.2%±12.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Standish and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 20% above ME	35 minHighest 42% above ME
Work from home	13.6%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Standish and Waterboro 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	#18 of 133 in ME	#80 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 06/MSAD 06	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	Bonny Eagle High School	Massabesic High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	13.5Highest
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.