Compare towns
Chester vs Mapleton vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 44).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($159k 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.
| Measure | Chester | Mapleton | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 598 |
1,884Highest |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44±10Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
| Chester and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Columbia and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,500±$8k 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,667±$15kLowest 24% below ME |
| Mapleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,500±$59k 42% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
| Mapleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $833±$51 27% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$894±$162Highest 22% below ME |
| Columbia and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,378 55% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±37.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Columbia and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 34% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Chester 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 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.