Compare towns
Beals vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Addison
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 most expensive homes ($257k median).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Addison has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Mapleton | Strong | Addison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 498Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,249 |
1,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-9.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±15.6 7% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
54.2±3.9Highest 21% above ME |
| Addison and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Strong 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
19.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Beals and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,063±$14k 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$50,524±$8k 32% below ME |
| Mapleton and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$163,500±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
| Beals and Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$900±$807 21% below ME |
| Strong and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,580Highest 15% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,625Lowest 46% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
60%±47.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Addison and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
22.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
85%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 17% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Beals Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | None 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.