Compare towns

Etna vs Mapleton vs Linneus vs Charleston

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Etna has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Linneus has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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.

MeasureEtnaMapletonLinneusCharleston
People
Population
1,252
1,884Highest
1,226
1,117Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.6%
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
-3.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.1%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.9±3.4
6% below ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
44.6±3.9
about the ME average
45.4±5.9Highest
about the ME average
Charleston and Linneus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6.7
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
24%±5.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
19.4%±5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Linneus and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±1.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
15.3%±3.2
ME: 22.4%
11.5%±2.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Etna and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
13.9%
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
11.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
12.1%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.5
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.5%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
0.4%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Linneus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,379±$16k
3% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$65,114±$18kLowest
13% below ME
$75,250±$20k
about the ME average
Mapleton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$183,000±$49k
38% below ME
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$144,200±$53kLowest
51% below ME
$226,500±$17kHighest
24% below ME
Charleston and Mapleton 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
—
$988±$870Highest
13% below ME
Charleston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,745
43% below ME
$1,789
41% below ME
$1,608Lowest
47% below ME
$1,811Highest
40% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
53.8%±55
ME: 48.4%
45.5%±100
ME: 48.4%
Etna and Linneus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
12%
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.4%
ME: 74.3%
92.1%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
16 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
12% above ME
28 minHighest
13% above ME
17 minLowest
29% below ME
26 min
5% above ME
Work from home
5.6%±3.3
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
5.4%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
16.6%±8.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
Charleston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 79/MSAD 01 — —
High school in town — None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.