Compare towns
Waterville vs Wilder vs Winslow
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 most people working from home (16.6%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Winslow has the most kids (20.7% 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.
| Measure | Waterville | Wilder | Winslow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,077Highest |
3,087Lowest |
5,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-31.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.2±4.5 8% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Winslow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winslow and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$59,547±$11k 26% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Winslow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$217,900±$12k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,036±$219 27% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Winslow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,755 12% below U.S. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$2,555Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winslow 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 32% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterville and Wilder 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 | — | #57 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 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.