Compare towns

Gouldsboro vs Mapleton vs Fayette

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gouldsboro has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Fayette has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

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.

MeasureGouldsboroMapletonFayette
People
Population
1,615
1,884Highest
1,383Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+1.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
60.2±5.2Highest
34% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
58.8±4.2
31% above ME
Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.9%±4.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
15.7%±4.4
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
38.8%±6.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
37.2%±5.4
ME: 22.4%
Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
39.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.7%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.8%±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
$60,873±$7k
19% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$59,500±$17kLowest
20% below ME
Mapleton and Gouldsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$276,800±$51kHighest
7% below ME
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$257,600±$48k
13% below ME
Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,298±$507Highest
14% above ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$983±$816
14% below ME
Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,305
24% below ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$3,160Highest
4% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
80.8%±28.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
46.8%±43.7
ME: 48.4%
Gouldsboro and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
46% above ME
28 minLowest
13% above ME
33 min
33% above ME
Work from home
15.8%±7.3
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
22.1%±7.1Highest
ME: 15.9%
Fayette and Gouldsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district RSU 24 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Fayette 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.