Compare towns
Alfred vs Danforth vs Lyman vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Alfred | Danforth | Lyman | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
452Lowest |
4,612Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
— | +4.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Lyman and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432 9% below ME |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
$1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543Highest 17% above ME |
— | $2,717 11% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | — | #40 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.