What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fort Fairfield has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fort Fairfield	Mapleton
People
Population	3,309Highest	1,884Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.7±6.6Highest 11% above ME	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME
	Fort Fairfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.5%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mapleton and Fort Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.9%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mapleton and Fort Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,852±$16kLowest 5% below ME	$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME
	Mapleton and Fort Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,000±$27kLowest 46% below ME	$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME
	Mapleton and Fort Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$738Highest 17% below ME	$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME
	Fort Fairfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,838Highest 39% below ME	$1,789Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.6%±77.5Highest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Fort Fairfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 30% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	8.9%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mapleton and Fort Fairfield 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	#72 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 86/MSAD 20	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	Fort Fairfield Middle/High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.