Compare towns
Chapman vs Penobscot vs Mapleton
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).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Penobscot | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 388Lowest |
1,154 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Penobscot 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% |
18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 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% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot 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% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 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 |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above 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±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 39% below ME |
$1,852Highest 39% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot 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% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 6% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Penobscot 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 |
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.