Compare towns
Clinton vs Lee vs Mapleton vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Clinton | Lee | Mapleton | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,381 |
925Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,117 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±10.3 8% above ME |
51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.4±5.9 about the ME average |
| Lee and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±9.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 8.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
14.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$57k 5% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$75,250±$20k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,800±$49kLowest 45% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$226,500±$17kHighest 24% below ME |
| Charleston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$988±$870Highest 13% below ME |
| Charleston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,709 44% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,811Highest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
97% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 min 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 2.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Charleston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #116 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.