Compare towns
Athens vs Mapleton vs Sumner vs Brighton plantation
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 homeowners (94.6%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Brighton plantation has the most renters (40.6% rent).
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 | Sumner | Brighton plantation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791 |
1,884Highest |
845 |
98Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
45.8±46.2 about the ME average |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
9.2%±32.2Lowest 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%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±27.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Brighton plantation are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
10%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
0%±15.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Athens 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$73,750±$50k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Brighton plantation are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
— |
| Mapleton and Athens 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±$277Highest 46% below ME |
— | — |
| Mapleton and Athens 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$4,500Highest 48% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 23.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
37.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
59.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
— |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±22.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Brighton plantation 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 10 | — |
| 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.