What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Winthrop has the oldest population (median age 43.6).

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	Winthrop
People
Population	1,403Lowest	6,191Highest
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	43.6±5.3Highest about the ME average
	Winthrop 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%	22.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Thorndike and Winthrop 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%	23.4%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	40%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Winthrop 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±$14kLowest 5% above ME	$86,470±$4kHighest 16% above ME
	Winthrop and Thorndike 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	$294,800±$41kHighest about the ME average
	Winthrop 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	$892±$319Highest 22% below ME
	Winthrop 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	$3,506Highest 15% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Winthrop 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%	12.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 46% above ME	35 minLowest 41% above ME
Work from home	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%	23.1%±6.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike and Winthrop 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	—	#12 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	Winthrop Public Schools
High school in town	Mt View High School	Winthrop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	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.