Compare towns
Knox vs Mapleton vs Canton vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Knox has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Canton has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Columbia has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Knox | Mapleton | Canton | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 825 |
1,884Highest |
1,191 |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
41.9±6.4Highest 6% below ME |
| Columbia and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$56,667±$15k 24% below ME |
| Mapleton and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
| Mapleton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$894±$162 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610 47% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,277Highest 25% below ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school 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.