Compare towns
Hamlin vs Mapleton vs Van Buren vs Caswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamlin has the most people working from home (32%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Van Buren has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Caswell has the most kids (28.8% 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 | Hamlin | Mapleton | Van Buren | Caswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 111Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
243 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 61.8±15.9Highest 38% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
56±3.2 25% above ME |
33.7±22.1Lowest 25% below ME |
| Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.2%±17.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Caswell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 40.5%±9.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
35.3%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hamlin and Van Buren 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% |
10.1% ME: 36.2% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
0%±6.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,938±$7k 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$40,170±$4kLowest 46% below ME |
$43,173±$15k 42% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $200,000±$58kHighest 33% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$97,700±$24k 67% below ME |
$85,000±$30kLowest 71% below ME |
| Hamlin 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 |
$733±$141 36% below ME |
$836±$272Highest 27% below ME |
| Caswell and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,339 56% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,415 53% below ME |
$1,118Lowest 63% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
40.7%±11 ME: 48.4% |
12.2%±46.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23% ME: 10.7% |
31.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
64.2% ME: 74.3% |
63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 min 39% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
15 minLowest 40% below ME |
17 min 32% below ME |
| Work from home | 32%±47.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.3%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hamlin 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 | RSU 88/MSAD 24 | Caswell Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Van Buren District Secondary Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.3 |
— |
| 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.