Compare towns
Crystal vs Lowell vs Mapleton vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Crystal has the most affordable homes ($129k median).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($210k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Topsfield has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Crystal | Lowell | Mapleton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 247 |
378 |
1,884Highest |
214Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 63.2±8.4 41% above ME |
55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
63.5±4.9Highest 42% above ME |
| Topsfield and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±11.8 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±10.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
44.9%±12.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Crystal and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$13kLowest 36% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$48,125±$16kLowest 36% below ME |
| Mapleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $129,200±$60kLowest 56% below ME |
$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$141,700±$32k 52% below ME |
| Lowell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$922Highest 37% above ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Crystal and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $943Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,478 51% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$957 68% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Lowell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8% ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | East Range CSD |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.