Compare towns
Fayette vs Mapleton vs Mount Vernon vs Chesterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayette has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Mount Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
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 | Fayette | Mapleton | Mount Vernon | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,383Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,716 |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.8±4.2Highest 31% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.1±6.2 5% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37.2%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±1.5 ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
42.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,500±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$74,395±$6k about the ME average |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
| Mapleton and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,600±$48k 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$264,200±$23kHighest 11% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
| Mount Vernon and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$816 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$893±$168 22% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Chesterville and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,160Highest 4% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,832 7% below ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±36.9 ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Fayette and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 22.1%±7.1 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
28.3%±11.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Vernon and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Fayette Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 38 | — |
| 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 | 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.