What stands out worked out from the figures below

Veazie has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.5%).

Beals has the most people working from home (17.6%).

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	Veazie	Beals
People
Population	1,847Highest	498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.7±4.6Lowest 4% above ME	48±15.6Highest 7% above ME
	Beals and Veazie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%	16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Veazie and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Beals and Veazie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.8%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8%	5.8%±5.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Veazie and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,229±$10kHighest 5% above ME	$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME
	Veazie and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$293,100±$35kHighest about the ME average	$256,700±$45kLowest 13% below ME
	Veazie and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,095±$79Highest 4% below ME	$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME
	Veazie and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,073Highest 34% above ME	$2,580Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.4Highest ME: 48.4%	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Veazie and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 27% below ME	21 minHighest 17% below ME
Work from home	12%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Beals and Veazie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Veazie Public Schools	Beals Public Schools
High school in town	None 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.