Compare towns
Charleston vs Mapleton vs Etna vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Etna has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Charleston | Mapleton | Etna | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,117Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,252 |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.4±5.9 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
41.9±3.4 6% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washington and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.9% ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±0.5 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,250±$20k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$72,379±$16k 3% below ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Mapleton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $226,500±$17kHighest 24% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,000±$49kLowest 38% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Charleston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $988±$870 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $1,036±$322Highest 9% below ME |
| Washington and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,811 40% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,745Lowest 43% below ME |
$2,286Highest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Etna and Washington 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 5% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.6%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Charleston and Washington 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 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.