What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.5%).

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	Wales
People
Population	1,403Lowest	1,924Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-0.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME	35.1±4.2Highest 22% below ME
	Wales 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%	30.2%±6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Thorndike and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.7%±6Highest ME: 22.4%	11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Thorndike and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Wales 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	$77,004±$5kLowest 3% above ME
	Thorndike and Wales 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	$250,400±$28kHighest 16% below ME
	Wales 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	$1,154±$64Highest about the ME average
	Wales and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,537Lowest 16% below ME	$2,578Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Wales 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%	25.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.4%Highest 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	28 minLowest 14% above ME
Work from home	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%	22.2%±13.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	RSU 04
High school in town	Mt View High School	Oak Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	11.9Highest
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.