Compare towns
Danforth vs Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Weston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Mars Hill has the most renters (29.4% rent).
Weston has the shortest commute (18 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 | Danforth | Mapleton | Mars Hill | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
1,884Highest |
1,398 |
275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
55.1±14Highest 23% above ME |
| Weston and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
23.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$58,942±$7k 21% below ME |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$163,600±$23k 45% below ME |
$171,700±$26k 42% below ME |
| Mapleton and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Highest 45% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
— |
| Danforth and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,843Highest 39% below ME |
$1,500 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Weston and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
19.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 15% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±12.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Weston 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 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.