Compare towns
Islesboro vs Mapleton vs Friendship
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).
Friendship has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
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 | Friendship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 636Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,213 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 57±8.4Highest 27% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
55.5±6.9 24% above ME |
| Islesboro and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Friendship 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% |
37.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Islesboro and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.8%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,438±$44k 18% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$75,625±$22kLowest about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,800±$140kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$275,000±$56k 7% below ME |
| Islesboro and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$252 18% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,370±$53Highest 20% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,300Highest 42% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,218 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±42.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Friendship 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% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 8 minLowest 69% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.9%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Islesboro and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.