What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newcastle has the most kids (17.8% under 18).

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	Newcastle
People
Population	1,216Lowest	1,913Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME	49.4±7Lowest 10% above ME
Kids under 18	11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.8%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Newcastle 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%	24.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	45.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Newcastle 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±$11kLowest about the ME average	$89,868±$33kHighest 20% above ME
	Newcastle and Vinalhaven 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	$398,000±$41kLowest 34% above ME
	Vinalhaven and Newcastle 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	$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME
	Newcastle and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,598Lowest 19% above ME	$4,256Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4%	5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Vinalhaven and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 24% below ME	17 minLowest 30% below ME
Work from home	19.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Newcastle and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.