Compare towns
Howland vs Lagrange vs Mapleton vs Anson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Howland has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
Lagrange has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
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 | Howland | Lagrange | Mapleton | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,367 |
709Lowest |
1,884 |
2,331Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME |
45.9±13.8 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
| Howland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Howland and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$58,417±$14k 22% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
| Mapleton and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
$126,000±$33k 58% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Mapleton and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$246 20% below ME |
$831±$151 27% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,546 49% below ME |
$869Lowest 71% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,572 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Lagrange and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.1%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Penobscot Valley High School | — | None in town | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | — | 11.6Highest |
| 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.