Compare towns
Columbia vs Mapleton vs Eustis vs Chester
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).
Eustis has the shortest commute (12 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 | Columbia | Mapleton | Eustis | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 529 |
1,884Highest |
453Lowest |
598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
59.1±14Highest 32% above ME |
44±10 about the ME average |
| Eustis and Chester 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% |
15.5%±13.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.4%±5.2 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+ | 25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Eustis 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% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
1%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$32,118±$11kLowest 57% below ME |
$64,500±$8k 14% 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 | $158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$262,200±$51kHighest 12% below ME |
$172,500±$59k 42% below ME |
| Eustis and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $894±$162 22% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$916±$547Highest 20% below ME |
$833±$51 27% below ME |
| Eustis and Columbia 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 |
$1,542 49% below ME |
$1,378 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66%±37.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±37.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Eustis and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
61.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 27% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.5%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Eustis 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 | Eustis Public Schools | — |
| 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.