Compare towns
Beals vs Brooklin vs Mapleton vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Brooklin has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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.
| Measure | Beals | Brooklin | Mapleton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 498Lowest |
869 |
1,884 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±15.6 7% above ME |
49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME |
$68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
| Windham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$339,400±$90k 14% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
| Windham and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $907±$378 20% below ME |
$1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
| Brooklin and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,580 15% below ME |
$1,792 41% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.5%±25 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Windham and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 17% below ME |
26 min 4% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Beals 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 | — | — | — | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Beals Public Schools | Brooklin Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.1 |
| 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.