Compare towns
Durham vs Mapleton vs Sutton vs West Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
West Gardiner has the shortest commute (24 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 | Durham | Mapleton | Sutton | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,239 |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8 12% above U.S. |
| Sutton and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$96,172±$30k 19% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$305,100±$42k 8% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,087±$150 23% below U.S. |
| Sutton and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$2,282 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Gardiner and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Sutton 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | — | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Kearsarge Regional School District | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.