Compare towns
Brooklin vs Mapleton vs New Gloucester vs Beals
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklin has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
New Gloucester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 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.
| Measure | Brooklin | Mapleton | New Gloucester | Beals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 869 |
1,884 |
5,766Highest |
498Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
48±15.6 7% above ME |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
30.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,400±$90k 14% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
| New Gloucester and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,150±$249 about the ME average |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
| Brooklin and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,792 41% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,417Highest 13% above ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.5%±25Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brooklin and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Beals and Brooklin 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 | — | — | #65 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Brooklin Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | Beals Public Schools |
| 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.