Compare towns
Harrington vs Jackson vs Mapleton vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harrington has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Harrington | Jackson | Mapleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917 |
567Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±12.1Highest 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Harrington and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Harrington and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,861±$17k 13% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Mapleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $144,600±$71kLowest 51% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$12 45% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,777Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±39Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Harrington and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | Narraguagus High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — | — |
| 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.