Compare towns
Alfred vs Danforth vs Mapleton vs Poland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Poland has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
452Lowest |
1,884 |
5,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
| Danforth and Alfred 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Alfred and Danforth 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Poland 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$85,557±$23k 14% above ME |
| Mapleton and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38kHighest 15% above ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$283,600±$44k 4% below ME |
| Alfred and Poland 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
| Poland 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 |
— | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,774 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Poland 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland 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 | — | — | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.