What stands out worked out from the figures below

York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

Castine has the youngest population (median age 21.2).

Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	York	Castine
People
Population	13,986Highest	1,362Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.5±5.2Highest 10% above ME	21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1%	9.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	27.9%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%	19.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	74.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME	$113,750±$26kLowest 52% above ME
	York and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME	$603,500±$114kLowest 103% above ME
	York and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME	$1,105±$104Lowest about the ME average
	York and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,658Highest 53% above ME	$4,250Lowest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±10.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	60.3%±56Highest ME: 48.4%
	Castine and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	14.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	14 minLowest 42% below ME
Work from home	26%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%	11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	York and Castine 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	#13 of 133 in ME	—
School district	York Public Schools	Castine Public Schools
High school in town	York High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6	—
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.