Compare towns
Denmark vs Jefferson vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Denmark has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Denmark | Jefferson | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,054Lowest |
2,647Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.4±5Highest 21% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.8% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,167±$10kLowest 14% below ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Jefferson and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Denmark and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,259 26% below ME |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Denmark and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.