Compare towns
Chapman vs Danforth vs Mapleton vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Mercer has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Chapman | Danforth | Mapleton | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
452 |
1,884Highest |
718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
| Danforth and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
| Mercer and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$22 45% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 39% below ME |
— | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,970Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Mercer and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 6% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school 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.