Compare towns

Castle Hill vs Readfield 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).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureCastle HillReadfieldMapletonLowell
People
Population
281Lowest
2,651Highest
1,884
378
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
0%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
57.8±15.8Highest
29% above ME
48.1±7.6
7% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
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%
18.7%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
13.2%±4.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Readfield 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%
22.3%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
31.2%±4.7
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
48.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
30%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±5.3
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±2
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.9%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Readfield 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
$86,504±$8k
16% above ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$50,833±$31kLowest
32% below ME
Mapleton and Readfield 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
$326,400±$20kHighest
10% above ME
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$209,700±$30k
29% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$950±$574
17% below ME
$1,125±$844Highest
about the ME average
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
—
Readfield 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
$3,392Highest
12% above ME
$1,789
41% below ME
$1,478
51% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
75%±100
ME: 48.4%
31.3%±100
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%
5%
ME: 10.7%
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
10.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.5%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1990Highest
13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
24% below ME
30 min
20% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
31 minHighest
24% above ME
Work from home
10.3%±9.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
24.3%±14.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±5.7
ME: 15.9%
Readfield 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 — #20 of 133 in ME — —
School district — RSU 38 RSU 79/MSAD 01 —
High school in town — Maranacook Community High Sch None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5
— —
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.