Compare towns
Arundel vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Hollis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arundel has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Arundel | Mapleton | Strong | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,418 |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
4,872Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
43.8±4.2 about the ME average |
| Strong and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.8%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hollis and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,597±$17kHighest 36% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$95,950±$24k 28% above ME |
| Arundel and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,300±$62kHighest 42% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$338,900±$27k 14% above ME |
| Arundel and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$495Highest 41% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$1,372±$293 20% above ME |
| Arundel and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,763Highest 24% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$2,625 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±22.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
48.9%±30.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hollis and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 7%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 133 in ME | — | — | #88 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.