Compare towns
Stoneham vs Patten vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
Patten has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Waterford has the most expensive homes ($274k 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.
| Measure | Stoneham | Patten | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
1,154 |
1,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
57.8±3.5 29% above ME |
54.3±1.6Lowest 21% above ME |
| Stoneham and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9 ME: 18.1% |
12.9%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waterford and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Stoneham and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Stoneham and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,750±$27k 15% below ME |
$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME |
$66,071±$17kHighest 12% below ME |
| Waterford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $226,200±$32k 24% below ME |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME |
$273,800±$36kHighest 8% below ME |
| Waterford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$383Highest about the ME average |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
$870±$405 24% below ME |
| Stoneham and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,426 53% below ME |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
$1,917Highest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1 ME: 48.4% |
36.6%±34Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Stoneham and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Stoneham and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.