Compare towns
Whiting vs Starks vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering WhitingCutler
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (11%).
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 | Whiting | Starks | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 506 |
556Highest |
424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.3% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 50±5 12% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
50.9±9.9Highest 14% above ME |
| Amherst and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±8.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Amherst and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Whiting and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.8%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Amherst and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,263±$2kLowest 26% below ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$72,656±$12kHighest about the ME average |
| Amherst and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,200±$52kHighest 28% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$210,200±$38k 29% below ME |
| Whiting and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $600±$333Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
— |
| Starks and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,728Highest 43% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,527 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Amherst and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% ME: 74.3% |
90%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 10% below ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Amherst and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Whiting Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.