Compare towns
Clifton vs Mapleton vs Machiasport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clifton has the most expensive homes ($203k median).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Machiasport has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Clifton | Mapleton | Machiasport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,111 |
1,884Highest |
1,016Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-14%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.7±7.1 18% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.8±9.1Highest 18% above ME |
| Machiasport and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.8%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.8%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Machiasport and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Clifton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$60,000±$12kLowest 20% below ME |
| Mapleton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,500±$67kHighest 32% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$177,100±$70kLowest 40% below ME |
| Clifton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,053±$102 8% below ME |
| Clifton and Machiasport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,838Highest 39% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,696Lowest 44% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Clifton and Machiasport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 19% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Machiasport Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None 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.