Compare towns

Edgecomb vs Mapleton vs Mount Desert

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Edgecomb has the highest household income ($109k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

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.

MeasureEdgecombMapletonMount Desert
People
Population
1,251Lowest
1,884Highest
1,671
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
+4.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41±8.8Lowest
8% below ME
41.8±6
7% below ME
54.9±8.2Highest
23% above ME
Mount Desert and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±7.2
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
29.1%±4.9Highest
ME: 22.4%
Mount Desert and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.8%
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
64.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8%±6.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±4.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Edgecomb and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,750±$18kHighest
46% above ME
$91,731±$25kLowest
23% above ME
$92,813±$9k
24% above ME
Edgecomb and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$348,400±$36k
17% above ME
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$522,100±$66kHighest
76% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,341±$89Highest
18% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,577Highest
18% above ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$3,512
16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
21.1%±43.8
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
33.9%±31.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
Mount Desert and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
84.8%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
1977
same as ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
10% below ME
28 minHighest
13% above ME
18 minLowest
27% below ME
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19.1%±9.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
Mount Desert and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Edgecomb Public Schools RSU 79/MSAD 01 Mount Desert Public Schools
High school in town None 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.