Compare towns
Caribou vs Chapman vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Caribou has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Caribou | Chapman | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,382Highest |
388Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.3±1.7Highest 15% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Caribou and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.8% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,709±$9kLowest 28% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $134,100±$31kLowest 55% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
| Mapleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $757±$143Highest 34% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Caribou and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,680Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,850Highest 39% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 40% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Caribou and Mapleton 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 | #59 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 39 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Caribou High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2 |
— | — |
| 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.