Compare towns
Islesboro vs Mapleton vs Castine
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Islesboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Castine has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Islesboro | Mapleton | Castine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 636Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 57±8.4Highest 27% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
74.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,438±$44kLowest 18% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$113,750±$26kHighest 52% above ME |
| Castine and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,800±$140k about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$603,500±$114kHighest 103% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$252 18% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,105±$104Highest about the ME average |
| Castine and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,300Highest 42% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,250 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.3%±56Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Castine and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 8 minLowest 69% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
14 min 42% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Islesboro and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Castine Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.