Compare towns
Holden vs Mapleton vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Dedham | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,352 |
1,884 |
1,656Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.6 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Dedham and Holden 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%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Mapleton 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest 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±$35k 23% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Dedham and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,400±$70k about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
| Dedham and Holden 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 |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
| Dedham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,221 6% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.8%±30.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 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 | Dedham Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.