What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

Oakland has the most kids (29.1% under 18).

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	Waterville	Oakland
People
Population	17,077Highest	2,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35.5±2.5Highest 21% below ME	32.6±5.5Lowest 27% below ME
	Waterville and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	29.1%±8Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.3%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4%	14.5%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Waterville and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	20.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,580±$4kHighest 28% below ME	$44,848±$19kLowest 40% below ME
	Waterville and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,600±$21kHighest 38% below ME	$167,000±$65kLowest 44% below ME
	Waterville and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$978±$72Highest 14% below ME	$956±$119Lowest 16% below ME
	Waterville and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,755Highest 9% below ME	$2,149Lowest 29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.5%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	58.6%±24.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Oakland and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	66.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 27% below ME	19 minHighest 22% below ME
Work from home	16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%	8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Waterville and Oakland 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	#23 of 133 in ME
School district	Waterville Public Schools	—
High school in town	Waterville Senior High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
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.