Compare towns
Brooks vs Carmel vs Mapleton vs Newburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Carmel has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Newburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Brooks | Carmel | Mapleton | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
2,941Highest |
1,884 |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
| Carmel and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Newburgh and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Carmel and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
| Carmel and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$2,662 12% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,748Highest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and Mapleton 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 | — | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.