What stands out worked out from the figures below

Caribou has the shortest commute (15 min average).

Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Caribou	Mapleton
People
Population	7,382Highest	1,884Lowest
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	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mapleton and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mapleton and Caribou 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	$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$134,100±$31kLowest 55% below ME	$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME
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	$1,789Highest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.3%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 40% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	12.5%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	10.8%±3.8Lowest 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

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.