Compare towns
Amherst vs Chapman vs Cooper 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 oldest population (median age 50.9).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Cooper has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Chapman | Cooper | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 424 |
388 |
157Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.9±9.9Highest 14% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
46.5±9.1 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Amherst and Cooper 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% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±17Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±14 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±9.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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 |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$48,750±$15kLowest 35% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,200±$38k 29% below ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$212,500±$66kHighest 28% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Cooper and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,527Lowest 50% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
$1,929Highest 36% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
20.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.5% ME: 74.3% |
95% 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 |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 11% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
44 minHighest 78% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Cooper and Amherst 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 Our Story | 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.