Compare towns
Brooks vs Cherryfield vs Mapleton vs Mars Hill
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 expensive homes ($197k median).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Mars Hill 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 | Brooks | Cherryfield | Mapleton | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
809Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Mars Hill 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% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 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±$10k 21% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kHighest 34% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
| Brooks and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$488±$96 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Highest 31% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 19.1% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1977 same as ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.0 |
| 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.