What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% 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	Thorndike
People
Population	17,077Highest	1,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35.5±2.5Highest 21% below ME	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
	Waterville and Thorndike 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%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.3%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Waterville and Thorndike 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%	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME	$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME	$205,600±$88kHighest 31% below ME
	Thorndike and Waterville 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	$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME
	Waterville and Thorndike 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	$2,537Lowest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Waterville and Thorndike 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%	6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 27% below ME	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	16.6%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike and Waterville 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	—
School district	Waterville Public Schools	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	Waterville Senior High School	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.