Compare towns
Brooks vs Warren vs Mapleton vs Knox
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%).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
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 | Warren | Mapleton | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
4,932Highest |
1,884 |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Brooks and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Brooks 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% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Knox 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% |
5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Warren 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 |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Mapleton and Warren 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 |
$232,700±$32kHighest 22% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Warren and Brooks 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 |
$1,125±$456 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Knox and Warren 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 |
$2,832Highest 7% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Warren and Brooks 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% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 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 |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and Knox 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 | — | #120 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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.