Compare towns
Castine vs Islesboro vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castine has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Islesboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Castine | Islesboro | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,362 |
636Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME |
57±8.4Highest 27% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 9.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 74.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$26kHighest 52% above ME |
$88,438±$44kLowest 18% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Castine and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$114kHighest 103% above ME |
$288,800±$140k about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$104Highest about the ME average |
$938±$252 18% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Castine and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,250 40% above ME |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±56Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Castine and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% ME: 10.7% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 min 42% below ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Islesboro and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Castine Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.