What stands out worked out from the figures below

Island Falls has the most affordable homes ($108k median).

Mapleton has the most expensive homes ($192k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Island Falls	Mapleton
People
Population	768Lowest	1,884Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.7±10.6Highest 13% above ME	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME
	Island Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mapleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mapleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,328±$8kLowest 25% below ME	$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$108,300±$25kLowest 63% below ME	$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$636±$124Highest 44% below ME	$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME
	Island Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,720Lowest 43% below ME	$1,789Highest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.9%±51.5Highest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Island Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 16% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	6.7%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mapleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.