Compare towns
Howland 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
Howland has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
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 | Howland | Mapleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,367 |
1,884Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Howland and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Howland 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Howland and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,297±$21k 34% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Mapleton and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,100±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Mapleton and Strong 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±18.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Howland and Strong 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Mapleton 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 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | Penobscot Valley High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.