Compare towns
Amherst vs Cooper vs Mapleton vs Aurora
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).
Cooper has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Aurora has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Amherst | Cooper | Mapleton | Aurora |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 424 |
157 |
1,884Highest |
132Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 50.9±9.9Highest 14% above ME |
46.5±9.1 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.2±17 5% above ME |
| Amherst and Aurora 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% |
16.6%±17Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
26.5%±16.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Aurora 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% |
22.9%±14 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.3%±26.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Aurora 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% |
22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
42.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±9.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Aurora 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 |
$48,750±$15kLowest 35% 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±$38k 29% below ME |
$212,500±$66kHighest 28% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$189,400±$17kLowest 36% 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±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,125±$342Highest about the ME average |
| Aurora and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,527Lowest 50% below ME |
$1,929 36% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,025Highest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Amherst and Aurora 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% |
20.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
75.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 11% above ME |
44 minHighest 78% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 min 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±5.9Lowest 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 | Airline CSD |
| High school 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.