Compare towns
Amherst vs Castle Hill vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most expensive homes ($210k median).
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Amherst | Castle Hill | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 424 |
281Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.9±9.9 14% above ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±8.6 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,656±$12k about the ME average |
$54,250±$14kLowest 27% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,200±$38kHighest 29% below ME |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $950±$574Highest 17% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,527 50% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Castle Hill and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 11% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.