Compare towns
Amherst vs Cooper vs Mapleton vs Whiting
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 homeowners (96.9%).
Cooper has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 424 |
157Lowest |
1,884Highest |
506 |
| 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 |
50±5 12% above ME |
| Amherst and Whiting 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%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±4.8 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% |
22.9%±14 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±9.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Cooper 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 |
$55,263±$2k 26% below 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±$66k 28% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$214,200±$52kHighest 28% below ME |
| Whiting and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $610±$277Highest 46% below ME |
$600±$333Lowest 47% below ME |
| Mapleton and Whiting 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 |
$1,929Highest 36% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,728 43% 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 Whiting 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% |
20.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 11% above ME |
44 minHighest 78% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | Whiting Public Schools |
| 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.