Compare towns
Anson vs Mapleton vs Howland vs Baileyville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Howland has the most renters (22.1% rent).
Baileyville has the shortest commute (12 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 | Anson | Mapleton | Howland | Baileyville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
1,884 |
1,367 |
1,339Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8% ME: +2.6% |
-13.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME |
47.5±12.6 6% above ME |
| Howland and Baileyville 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Howland and Baileyville 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
14.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$60,000±$19k 20% below ME |
| Mapleton and Baileyville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14k 60% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
$112,100±$20kLowest 62% 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±$62Highest 19% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
$873±$143 23% below ME |
| Anson and Howland 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 |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,546 49% below ME |
$1,039Lowest 66% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
67%±35.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Baileyville and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
12 minLowest 53% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Baileyville 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 | Baileyville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School | Woodland Jr-Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.