Compare towns
Anson vs Mapleton vs Searsmont 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).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Howland has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
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 | Searsmont | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
1,884 |
1,646 |
1,367Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME |
| Howland 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Howland and Searsmont 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% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Mapleton and Searsmont 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$940±$311Highest 17% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
| Searsmont 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,788Highest 8% below ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Searsmont 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont 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 71 | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | 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.