Compare towns
Anson vs Chapman vs Mapleton vs Strong
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).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Chapman | Mapleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
388Lowest |
1,884 |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Strong and Anson 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% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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 |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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 |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Mapleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Anson and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Strong and Anson 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Mapleton 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 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.