Compare towns
Bradley vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Old Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Strong has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Old Town has the most renters (40.7% rent).
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 | Strong | Old Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645 |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
7,470Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±9.7 5% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
37±1.5Lowest 17% below ME |
| Strong 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%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
36.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Old Town and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,667±$28k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$51,585±$10k 31% below ME |
| Mapleton and Bradley 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$208,100±$26kHighest 30% below ME |
| Old Town and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$325Highest 4% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$989±$100 13% below ME |
| Bradley and Old Town 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$3,153Highest 4% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±22.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Old Town and Bradley 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
21.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1963Lowest 14 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
20 minLowest 18% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.4%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Old Town and Strong 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 | — | — | — | #56 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 34 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Old Town High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.