Compare towns
Embden vs Mapleton vs Starks vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Embden | Mapleton | Starks | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 995 |
1,884Highest |
556Lowest |
845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Mapleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Mapleton and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
— |
| Starks and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804 41% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Sumner 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 10 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.