Compare towns
Blaine vs Mapleton vs Starks vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blaine has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Starks has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Blaine | Mapleton | Starks | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 706 |
1,884Highest |
556Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±17 3% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Starks and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Blaine and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±7.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Blaine and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,707±$24k 8% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Mapleton and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | — | $191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Mapleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $691±$303 39% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Starks and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804 41% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,854Highest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±3.1 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.