What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waldoboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

Friendship has the most people working from home (17.9%).

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	Waldoboro	Friendship
People
Population	5,253Highest	1,213Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.1±4.6Lowest 12% above ME	55.5±6.9Highest 24% above ME
	Friendship and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Waldoboro and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	37.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	39.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	0.8%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Waldoboro and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,107±$8kLowest 8% below ME	$75,625±$22kHighest about the ME average
	Friendship and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,900±$39kLowest 7% below ME	$275,000±$56kHighest 7% below ME
	Friendship and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME	$1,370±$53Highest 20% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,861Highest 6% below ME	$2,218Lowest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.5%±42.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Friendship and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 3% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.9%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Friendship and Waldoboro 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	#55 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 40/MSAD 40	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	Medomak Valley High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5	—
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.