Compare towns
Castle Hill vs New Gloucester vs Mapleton vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 min average).
New Gloucester has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Castle Hill | New Gloucester | Mapleton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 281Lowest |
5,766Highest |
1,884 |
378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
| Castle Hill and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14k 27% below ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574 17% below ME |
$1,150±$249Highest about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| New Gloucester and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$3,417Highest 13% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,478 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| New Gloucester 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 | — | #65 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | 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 | 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.