Compare towns
Jefferson vs Liberty vs Mapleton vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Whitefield has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Jefferson | Liberty | Mapleton | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
969Lowest |
1,884 |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME |
| Whitefield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$71,146±$15kLowest 5% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$73,875±$10k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$895±$126 21% below ME |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,366 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Liberty and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.