Compare towns
Caswell vs Mapleton vs Chester vs Moose River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Caswell has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 44).
Moose River has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Caswell | Mapleton | Chester | Moose River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 243Lowest |
1,884Highest |
598 |
248 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 33.7±22.1 25% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44±10Highest about the ME average |
32.9±8.2Lowest 27% below ME |
| Chester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±11.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
32.3%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Moose River and Caswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
8.5%±10.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 8.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
14.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4%±6.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Moose River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $43,173±$15kLowest 42% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$64,500±$8k 14% below ME |
$76,324±$9k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Moose River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $85,000±$30kLowest 71% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$172,500±$59k 42% below ME |
$144,900±$31k 51% below ME |
| Mapleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $836±$272Highest 27% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$833±$51 27% below ME |
— |
| Caswell and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,118 63% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,378 55% below ME |
$928Lowest 69% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.2%±46.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±37.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 31.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
14.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
77.1% ME: 74.3% |
91.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 32% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
15 minLowest 39% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.5%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Caswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caswell 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 | 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.