Compare towns

Aurora vs Mapleton vs Great Pond

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).
Mapleton has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Great Pond has the most people working from home (36.4%).

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.

MeasureAuroraMapletonGreat Pond
People
Population
132
1,884Highest
42Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
47.2±17
5% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
68.5±12.1Highest
53% above 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%
22.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
7.1%±69.6Lowest
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%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
59.5%±69.6Highest
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%
34.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
38.5%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±10.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
0%±37Lowest
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 —
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$22,292±$21kLowest
70% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$189,400±$17kLowest
36% below ME
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$197,900±$52kHighest
33% 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
$1,789
41% below ME
$742Lowest
76% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
100%±100Highest
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%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
14.3%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
92.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
13 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
36% above ME
28 minLowest
13% above ME
57 minHighest
132% above ME
Work from home
6.5%±5.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
36.4%±6.7Highest
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.