Compare towns

Chapman vs Sweden 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).
Sweden has the most people working from home (9.5%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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.

MeasureChapmanSwedenStarks
People
Population
388Lowest
537
556Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-7.3%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.7±11.4Lowest
about the ME average
51.1±19.2Highest
14% above ME
46.7±9.4
4% above ME
Sweden and Starks 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%
21.8%±5.5
ME: 18.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Chapman and Sweden 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%
20.3%±8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
20.3%±2.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Chapman and Sweden 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%
34.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
21%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.6%±2.7
ME: 5.8%
0.9%±2.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Chapman and Sweden 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
$73,750±$25k
about the ME average
$63,500±$8kLowest
15% below ME
Chapman and Sweden 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
$311,300±$61kHighest
5% above ME
$148,500±$27kLowest
50% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,667±$815Highest
46% above ME
$1,063±$301Lowest
7% below ME
Sweden and Starks 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
$2,598Highest
14% below ME
$1,348Lowest
56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
8.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
45.5%±90.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
Starks and Sweden 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%
14.7%
ME: 10.7%
19.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
92.2%
ME: 74.3%
90%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
6% below ME
31 min
25% above ME
33 minHighest
33% above ME
Work from home
4.8%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
9.5%±3.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
3.3%±2.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Sweden and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.