Compare towns
Bradley vs Mapleton vs Steep Falls vs Orono
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradley has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Steep Falls has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.6).
Orono is a college town. 59.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bradley | Mapleton | Steep Falls | Orono |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
1,884 |
1,861 |
11,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±9.7 5% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average |
21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
11%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bradley and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
69.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,667±$28k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
$59,784±$5kLowest 20% below ME |
| Mapleton and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,800±$37k 32% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$262,900±$39kHighest 11% below ME |
| Orono and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$325 4% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$1,280±$117 12% above ME |
| Steep Falls and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,946 36% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,273 8% above ME |
$4,778Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±22.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.2%±11.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
27%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±3.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Bradley and Orono 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 | — | — | — | #26 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 34 | 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 | 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.