What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Standish has the most people working from home (13.6%).

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	Standish
People
Population	8,055Lowest	10,662Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.1Highest 6% below ME	40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME
	Waterboro and Standish 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%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Waterboro and Standish 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%	15.2%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Standish 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%	36%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,392±$16kLowest 20% above ME	$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME
	Standish 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±$23kLowest about the ME average	$336,000±$18kHighest 13% above ME
	Standish and Waterboro 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	$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME
	Waterboro and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,772Lowest 9% below ME	$3,005Highest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.2%±12.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Standish and Waterboro 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%	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 42% above ME	29 minLowest 20% above ME
Work from home	10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	13.6%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Standish 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	#18 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town	Massabesic High School	Bonny Eagle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	12.5Lowest
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.