Compare towns
Wales vs Somerville vs Porter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Porter has the oldest population (median age 40.9).
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.
| Measure | Wales | Somerville | Porter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,924Highest |
837Lowest |
1,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.1±4.2 22% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
40.9±7.9Highest 9% below ME |
| Porter and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Wales and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.6% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Wales and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,004±$5kHighest 3% above ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$60,417±$9kLowest 19% below ME |
| Wales and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,400±$28kHighest 16% below ME |
$218,100±$41kLowest 26% below ME |
$226,100±$20k 24% below ME |
| Wales and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$64Lowest about the ME average |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,578Highest 15% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
$1,841Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wales and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Wales and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 04 | RSU 12 | — |
| High school in town | Oak Hill High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.