Compare towns
Crystal vs Mapleton vs Sherman vs Patten
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 oldest population (median age 63.2).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Sherman has the most kids (33.4% under 18).
Patten has the most affordable homes ($83k median).
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 | Mapleton | Sherman | Patten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 247Lowest |
1,884Highest |
947 |
607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 63.2±8.4Highest 41% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
33.4±8.6Lowest 25% below ME |
56.1±5.8 25% above ME |
| Crystal and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±11.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
33.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.5%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
32.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±0.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$13k 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$49,444±$7k 34% below ME |
$45,750±$19kLowest 39% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $129,200±$60k 56% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$115,200±$14k 61% below ME |
$83,000±$51kLowest 72% below ME |
| Mapleton and Crystal 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±$277 46% below ME |
$672±$329 41% below ME |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
| Crystal and Sherman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $943 69% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,328 56% below ME |
$857Lowest 72% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
46.7%±77.5 ME: 48.4% |
56%±58.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Patten and Sherman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
37.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
28.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1955Lowest 22 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
28.2%±12.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±24.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sherman and Patten 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 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.