Compare towns
Alfred vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Waterboro
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Waterboro has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Unity is a college town. 30% 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.
| Measure | Alfred | Mapleton | Unity | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
1,884 |
1,858Lowest |
8,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
42±3.1 6% below ME |
| Alfred and Waterboro 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waterboro and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
14.8%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Alfred and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$89,392±$16k 20% above ME |
| Mapleton and Waterboro 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$297,000±$23k about the ME average |
| Alfred and Waterboro 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME |
| Waterboro 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,772 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 | — | — | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.