Compare towns
Detroit vs Mapleton vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Detroit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Alton has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Detroit | Mapleton | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 650Lowest |
1,884Highest |
819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.4±13.4 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.1±5.9Highest 10% above ME |
| Alton and Detroit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±9.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Detroit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±7.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Alton and Detroit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Detroit and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,111±$22kLowest 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
| Mapleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $137,500±$40kLowest 54% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$179,500±$25k 39% below ME |
| Mapleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$263Highest 4% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$866±$48 24% below ME |
| Detroit and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,235Lowest 59% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,476 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±46.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Detroit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15%±9.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Alton and Detroit 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 34 |
| 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.