Compare towns
Chesterville vs Denmark vs Mapleton vs New Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Denmark has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
New Sharon has the most affordable homes ($171k 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 | Chesterville | Denmark | Mapleton | New Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,397 |
1,054Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,550 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
54.4±5Highest 21% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.9±8.9 about the ME average |
| Denmark and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,889±$21k 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
$250,000±$68kHighest 16% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$171,200±$21kLowest 42% below ME |
| Denmark and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$73 4% below ME |
$1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$961±$55 16% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,194 28% below ME |
$2,259Highest 26% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,889 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.8%±30.8 ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61%±38 ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.4% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±2.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Denmark and Mapleton 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 09 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.