What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Monmouth has the most people working from home (23%).

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	Monmouth
People
Population	5,253Highest	4,162Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME	46.2±1.5Lowest 3% above ME
	Waldoboro and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	19%±6.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Monmouth and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Waldoboro and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	33.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.2%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Monmouth and Waldoboro 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	$74,648±$18kHighest about the ME average
	Monmouth 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±$39kHighest 7% below ME	$274,100±$21kLowest 8% below ME
	Waldoboro and Monmouth 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	$1,271±$175Highest 12% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,861Lowest 6% below ME	$3,139Highest 3% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	54.6%±46.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Monmouth and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 3% above ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	23%±11Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#55 of 133 in ME	#51 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 40/MSAD 40	RSU 02
High school in town	Medomak Valley High School	Monmouth Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	10.7Lowest
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.