Compare towns
Athens vs Mapleton vs Steuben vs Burnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Steuben has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Burnham has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Athens | Mapleton | Steuben | Burnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,388 |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
48.4±3.2Highest 8% above ME |
| Burnham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
20.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
| Mapleton and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$173,900±$32k 41% below ME |
$178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
| Mapleton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$678±$319 40% below ME |
$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
| Burnham and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,029Highest 33% below ME |
$1,897 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
87.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Burnham and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 24 | — |
| High school 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.