What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

Boothbay Harbor has the shortest commute (14 min average).

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	Vinalhaven	Boothbay Harbor
People
Population	1,216Lowest	2,096Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-6.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME	63.8±4.7Lowest 42% above ME
	Vinalhaven and Boothbay Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	11.5%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Boothbay Harbor and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4%	47%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Vinalhaven and Boothbay Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	42.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Boothbay Harbor and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,963±$11kHighest about the ME average	$62,800±$13kLowest 16% below ME
	Vinalhaven and Boothbay Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME	$400,600±$49kLowest 35% above ME
	Vinalhaven and Boothbay Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME	$1,058±$123Highest 7% below ME
	Boothbay Harbor and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,598Highest 19% above ME	$2,808Lowest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±41.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	79.3%±17.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Boothbay Harbor and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	75.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 11 yrs older than ME	1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 24% below ME	14 minLowest 42% below ME
Work from home	19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	17.1%±6.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Vinalhaven and Boothbay Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Boothbay-Boothbay Hbr CSD
High school in town	—	Boothbay Region High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.