What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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	Waterville
People
Population	1,403Lowest	17,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME	35.5±2.5Highest 21% below ME
	Waterville 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%	14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Waterville 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%	30.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME	$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$205,600±$88kHighest 31% below ME	$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME
	Thorndike and Waterville 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	$978±$72Highest 14% below ME
	Waterville 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	$2,755Highest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Waterville 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%	20.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 46% above ME	18 minLowest 27% below ME
Work from home	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%	16.6%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike and Waterville 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	—	#105 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	Waterville Public Schools
High school in town	Mt View High School	Waterville Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.8Highest
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.