Compare towns

Bremen vs Mapleton vs Islesboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bremen has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 min average).

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.

MeasureBremenMapletonIslesboro
People
Population
917
1,884Highest
636Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
52.1±8.2
16% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
57±8.4Highest
27% above ME
Islesboro and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±5.6
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
11.2%±6.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
34.1%±9.9
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
40.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
Islesboro and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.2%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
47.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.2
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
0.9%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,000±$21kHighest
34% above ME
$91,731±$25k
23% above ME
$88,438±$44kLowest
18% above ME
Bremen and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$425,300±$28kHighest
43% above ME
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$288,800±$140k
about the ME average
Bremen and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$938±$252Highest
18% below ME
Islesboro and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,829
7% below ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$4,300Highest
42% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5
ME: 48.4%
30.8%±85.4Highest
ME: 48.4%
Islesboro and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.4%
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
15.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
91.8%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
1977
same as ME
1974Lowest
3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
13% below ME
28 minHighest
13% above ME
8 minLowest
69% below ME
Work from home
22.7%±6.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.3%±8.8
ME: 15.9%
Bremen and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 79/MSAD 01 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.