Compare towns
Jefferson vs Limerick 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
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Mapleton has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Jefferson | Limerick | Mapleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,647 |
3,400Highest |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
40.4±9.2 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Strong 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% |
18.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 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% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Limerick and Mapleton 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 |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Jefferson and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Limerick and Jefferson 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% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Limerick 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school 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.