Compare towns
Chapman vs Milo vs Mapleton vs Starks
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).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Starks has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Milo | Mapleton | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
2,165Highest |
1,884 |
556 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
43.9±7 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
| Starks 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% |
16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8% ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$56,875±$9kLowest 24% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% 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 |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% 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 | — | $879±$400 23% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Starks and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850Highest 39% below ME |
$1,450 52% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Milo and Starks 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% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 6% below ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— | — |
| 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.