Compare towns
Calais vs Limerick vs Mapleton vs Searsport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most affordable homes ($111k median).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Searsport has the most people working from home (20.2%).
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 | Calais | Limerick | Mapleton | Searsport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
3,400Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,655 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±5.1Highest about the ME average |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.9±7.2 4% below ME |
| Calais and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.7%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Calais and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Calais and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,096±$10kLowest 14% below ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$64,303±$19k 14% below ME |
| Limerick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $111,100±$36kLowest 63% below ME |
$269,400±$29kHighest 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$224,400±$78k 24% below ME |
| Limerick and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,010±$199 11% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,105±$87 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,684Lowest 45% below ME |
$2,520Highest 17% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,225 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.2%±25.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Calais and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
14.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
69.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 35% below ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 2.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsport and Limerick 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 | #48 of 133 in ME | — | — | #109 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Calais Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 20 |
| High school in town | Calais Middle/High School | — | None in town | Searsport District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | — | 8.2Lowest |
| 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.