Compare towns
Brooklin vs Mapleton vs Newcastle 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 most homeowners (84.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Newcastle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Beals has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Newcastle | Beals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 869 |
1,884 |
1,913Highest |
498Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.4±7Highest 10% above ME |
48±15.6 7% above ME |
| Newcastle and Brooklin 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%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Newcastle 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%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±1.4 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.1%Highest 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% |
4.2%±2Lowest 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±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$89,868±$33k 20% above ME |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME |
| Mapleton and Newcastle 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 |
$398,000±$41kHighest 34% above ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
| Newcastle and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$137 9% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
| Newcastle and Brooklin 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 |
$4,256Highest 40% 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% |
5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Brooklin and Mapleton 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% |
3.5%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% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1984Highest 7 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 |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
21 min 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Newcastle and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Brooklin Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Beals Public Schools |
| High school 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.