What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).

Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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	Thorndike	Somerville
People
Population	1,403Highest	837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME	33.5±11.3Highest 25% below ME
	Somerville and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%	28.8%±7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Thorndike and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%	13.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Somerville and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Somerville and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME	$71,250±$15kLowest 5% below ME
	Thorndike and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME	$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME
	Somerville and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME	$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,537Highest 16% below ME	$2,505Lowest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 46% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%	3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	RSU 12
High school in town	Mt View High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	—
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.