Compare towns
Charlotte vs Mapleton vs Cooper vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlotte has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Cooper has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Amherst has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
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 | Charlotte | Mapleton | Cooper | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 377 |
1,884Highest |
157Lowest |
424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.6±3.1 8% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.5±9.1 4% above ME |
50.9±9.9Highest 14% above ME |
| Amherst and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±10.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±17Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±8.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±7.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±14 ME: 22.4% |
24.3%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Amherst and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±9.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.8%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$18k 9% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$48,750±$15kLowest 35% below ME |
$72,656±$12k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $140,800±$30kLowest 53% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$212,500±$66kHighest 28% below ME |
$210,200±$38k 29% below ME |
| Cooper and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,000Highest 34% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,929 36% below ME |
$1,527Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— | 50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
20.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
96.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
44 minHighest 78% above ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 2%±2.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Cooper and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.