What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Winthrop has the most people working from home (23.1%).

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	Winthrop
People
Population	8,055Highest	6,191Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.1Lowest 6% below ME	43.6±5.3Highest about the ME average
	Winthrop and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Winthrop and Waterboro 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%	23.4%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	40%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Waterboro and Winthrop 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	$86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME
	Waterboro and Winthrop 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	$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average
	Waterboro and Winthrop 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	$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME
	Waterboro and Winthrop 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	$3,506Highest 15% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.2%±12.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Winthrop 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%	12.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%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 minHighest 42% above ME	35 minLowest 41% above ME
Work from home	10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#80 of 133 in ME	#12 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	Winthrop Public Schools
High school in town	Massabesic High School	Winthrop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.7Lowest
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.