Compare towns
Aurora vs Great Pond vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Aurora has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
Great Pond has the most people working from home (36.4%).
Mapleton has the shortest commute (28 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 | Aurora | Great Pond | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 132 |
42Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±17 5% above ME |
68.5±12.1Highest 53% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Great Pond and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.5%±16.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
7.1%±69.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Aurora and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±26.9 ME: 22.4% |
59.5%±69.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Great Pond and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±37Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Aurora and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $22,292±$21kLowest 70% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,400±$17kLowest 36% below ME |
$197,900±$52kHighest 33% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Great Pond and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$342Highest about the ME average |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Aurora and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,025Highest 33% below ME |
$742Lowest 76% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Great Pond and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 36% above ME |
57 minHighest 132% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
36.4%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Airline CSD | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.