Compare towns
Chapman vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Wade
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).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
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 | Mapleton | Strong | Wade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388 |
1,884Highest |
1,249 |
244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
| Wade and Strong 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7Lowest 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%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
33.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% 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 |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
| Mapleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
— |
| Strong and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 39% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,655Lowest 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Strong and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 6% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| 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.