Compare towns
Holden vs Mapleton vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Holden | Mapleton | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,352 |
1,884Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.6Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Holden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,200±$35kHighest 23% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Holden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,400±$70kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
| Holden and Brewer 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 |
$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,221 6% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.8%±30.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Holden and Mapleton 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 | #61 of 133 in ME | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 63/MSAD 63 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.0 |
| 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.