Compare towns
Harrington vs Mapleton vs Robbinston vs Columbia
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Robbinston has the most expensive homes ($228k median).
Columbia has the most kids (24.2% 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.
| Measure | Harrington | Mapleton | Robbinston | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917 |
1,884Highest |
621 |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±12.1Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.1±2.7 7% above ME |
41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
| Harrington and Robbinston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Harrington and Robbinston 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$68,333±$13k 9% below ME |
$56,667±$15kLowest 24% below ME |
| Mapleton and Robbinston 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$228,000±$41kHighest 23% below ME |
$158,700±$19k 46% below ME |
| Robbinston 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 |
$1,232±$808Highest 8% above ME |
$894±$162 22% below ME |
| Robbinston and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,777 41% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,478 51% below ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±39Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.6%±26.7 ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Harrington and Columbia 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 min 9% below ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4 ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Columbia 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Narraguagus High School | 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.