What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterboro has the most kids (22.5% under 18).

Minot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Waterboro	Minot
People
Population	8,055Highest	2,794Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.1Lowest 6% below ME	49±6.1Highest 9% above ME
	Minot and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Waterboro and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.3%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Minot and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Minot and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,392±$16kLowest 20% above ME	$95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME
	Minot and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$297,000±$23kHighest about the ME average	$294,900±$26kLowest about the ME average
	Waterboro and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME	$878±$801Lowest 23% below ME
	Waterboro and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,772Highest 9% below ME	$2,602Lowest 14% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.2%±12.5Highest ME: 48.4%	35.7%±40.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Waterboro and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 42% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Minot and Waterboro 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	#80 of 133 in ME	#78 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	RSU 16
High school in town	Massabesic High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5	—
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.