Compare towns
Anson vs Mapleton vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Anson | Mapleton | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±15.2 3% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Penobscot and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,770±$61k 17% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $914±$247 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,852Highest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot 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 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None 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.