Compare towns
Waterville vs Newfields vs Farmington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Farmington has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Waterville | Newfields | Farmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,077Highest |
2,023Lowest |
8,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.2±3.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Farmington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Farmington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$54,276±$7k 33% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,600±$21k 45% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$166,600±$18kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$902±$106Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,755 12% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,958Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.5%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Farmington 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | — | #64 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waterville Public Schools | Newfields School District | RSU 09 |
| High school in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town | Mt Blue High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.