Compare towns
Burnham vs Embden vs Mapleton vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Burnham | Embden | Mapleton | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 953Lowest |
995 |
1,884 |
3,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40±6.5Lowest 11% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Pittsfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8% ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittsfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$57,381±$12k 23% below ME |
| Mapleton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$164,100±$17kLowest 45% below ME |
| Mapleton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$825±$260 28% below ME |
| Burnham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897 38% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,965Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±21.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Burnham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
76.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Burnham 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 | — | — | — | #125 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 53/MSAD 53 |
| High school 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.