Compare towns
Brownville vs Mapleton vs Howland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownville has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Howland has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
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 | Brownville | Mapleton | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 983Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,367 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±4.6 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME |
| Howland and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Brownville and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±3.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,063±$15k 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Mapleton and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $96,700±$22kLowest 67% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
| Mapleton and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$120Highest 7% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
| Brownville and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,250Lowest 59% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,546 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Howland and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 22 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 49% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.