What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Newfield
People
Population	8,055Highest	1,580Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.1Lowest 6% below ME	52.8±8.1Highest 18% above ME
	Newfield 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%	12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.9%±6Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Waterboro and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,392±$16kHighest 20% above ME	$57,188±$20kLowest 23% below ME
	Waterboro and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$297,000±$23kLowest about the ME average	$318,100±$27kHighest 7% above ME
	Newfield and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$461 5% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,772Highest 9% below ME	$2,402Lowest 21% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.2%±12.5Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Waterboro and Newfield 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%	10.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 42% above ME	49 minHighest 98% above ME
Work from home	10%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%	6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Waterboro and Newfield 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	—
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	RSU 57/MSAD 57
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.