Compare towns
Columbia vs Mapleton vs Columbia Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Columbia Falls has the most people working from home (22.1%).
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 | Columbia | Mapleton | Columbia Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 529 |
1,884Highest |
475Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-15%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
54.1±7.7Highest 21% above ME |
| Columbia Falls and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Columbia Falls and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.9Lowest 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 | $56,667±$15k 24% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$43,750±$5kLowest 41% below ME |
| Mapleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$219,300±$37kHighest 26% below ME |
| Columbia Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $894±$162Highest 22% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$725±$675 36% below ME |
| Columbia and Columbia Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,667 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.8%±29.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Columbia and Columbia Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 27% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
22.1%±18.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Columbia Falls 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 | — |
| 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.