Compare towns
Andover vs Castle Hill vs Mapleton vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Andover | Castle Hill | Mapleton | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 679 |
281Lowest |
1,884Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Castle Hill and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±6.3 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,922±$9kLowest 33% below ME |
$54,250±$14k 27% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Mapleton and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,300±$22k 43% below ME |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
| Mapleton and Andover 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±$277 46% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% 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 | $1,513 50% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 16.1% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Andover Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.