What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winthrop has the oldest population (median age 43.6).

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	Winthrop	Thorndike
People
Population	6,191Highest	1,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.6±5.3Highest about the ME average	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
	Winthrop and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Thorndike and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.4%±5Highest ME: 22.4%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Winthrop and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,470±$4kHighest 16% above ME	$78,438±$14kLowest 5% above ME
	Winthrop and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$41kHighest about the ME average	$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME
	Winthrop and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$892±$319Highest 22% below ME	$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME
	Winthrop and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,506Highest 15% above ME	$2,537Lowest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Winthrop and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 41% above ME	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	23.1%±6.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike and Winthrop 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	#12 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Winthrop Public Schools	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	Winthrop High School	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	11.7
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.