Compare towns
Knox vs Mapleton vs Temple 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 most people working from home (12.3%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Temple has the most kids (32.8% under 18).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
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 | Temple | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 825 |
1,884Highest |
824 |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
34±14Lowest 24% 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% |
32.8%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Temple and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15%±6.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Columbia and Mapleton 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% |
13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$56,087±$2kLowest 25% 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$210,200±$79kHighest 29% below ME |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
| Temple and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47 21% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME |
$894±$162 22% below ME |
| Temple and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610 47% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,367Highest 22% 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% |
73.3%±70.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Temple and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1966Lowest 11 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 |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±8.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Knox and Mapleton 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.