Compare towns
Jefferson vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Nobleboro
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).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Nobleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Mapleton | Strong | Nobleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
1,906 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
48.4±1.8Highest 8% above ME |
| Nobleboro and Strong 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Nobleboro and Strong 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.1 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$100,417±$14kHighest 34% above ME |
| Nobleboro 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±$35k 5% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$352,600±$45kHighest 19% above ME |
| Nobleboro and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$1,099±$231 4% below ME |
| Jefferson and Nobleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$3,049Highest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
51.3%±32.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Nobleboro 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Mapleton 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 | Nobleboro Public Schools |
| 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.