What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sweden has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

Waterford has the most people working from home (18.8%).

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	Sweden	Waterford
People
Population	537Lowest	1,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.1% ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.1±19.2Lowest 14% above ME	54.3±1.6Highest 21% above ME
	Waterford and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1%	12.9%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Sweden and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.3%±8Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.7%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Waterford and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Waterford and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,750±$25kHighest about the ME average	$66,071±$17kLowest 12% below ME
	Sweden and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,300±$61kHighest 5% above ME	$273,800±$36kLowest 8% below ME
	Sweden and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,667±$815Highest 46% above ME	$870±$405Lowest 24% below ME
	Sweden and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,598Highest 14% below ME	$1,917Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	8.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	36.6%±34Highest ME: 48.4%
	Waterford and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 5 yrs newer than ME	1982 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 25% above ME	34 minHighest 40% above ME
Work from home	9.5%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.8%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Waterford and Sweden 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

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.