Compare towns
Anson vs Castle Hill vs Mapleton vs Howland
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 ($118k median).
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Howland has the most renters (22.1% 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 | Anson | Castle Hill | Mapleton | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
281Lowest |
1,884 |
1,367 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
| Castle Hill and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$54,250±$14k 27% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% 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 | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$145,300±$18k 51% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
| Mapleton and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$950±$574Highest 17% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572 48% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,546 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Castle Hill and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | — | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.