Compare towns
Albion vs Mapleton vs Benton vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albion has the most people working from home (15.7%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Freedom has the most homeowners (90.2%).
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 | Albion | Mapleton | Benton | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,204 |
1,884 |
2,770Highest |
670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
40.1±2.7Lowest 10% below ME |
| Albion and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
| Mapleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$190,600±$69k 36% below ME |
| Albion and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,987 35% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,328Highest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 36% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Albion and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #85 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.