Compare towns
Caribou vs Mapleton vs Limestone vs Madawaska
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Madawaska has the shortest commute (12 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Limestone | Madawaska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,382Highest |
1,884 |
1,579Lowest |
3,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.3±1.7 15% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
52.6±4.1Highest 17% above ME |
| Madawaska and Caribou 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Limestone 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
28.8%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madawaska 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone 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±$9k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$56,818±$9k 24% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $134,100±$31k 55% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$156,300±$15k 47% below ME |
| Mapleton and Madawaska 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 |
$754±$233 34% below ME |
$635±$148 44% below ME |
| Caribou and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,680 45% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,923Highest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
60%±31.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Madawaska and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 17 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1968 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 min 40% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
12 minLowest 53% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Limestone and Caribou 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 | — | — | #83 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 39 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | Madawaska Public Schools |
| High school in town | Caribou High School | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | Madawaska Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.