Compare towns
Knox vs Mapleton vs Weld 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).
Weld has the oldest population (median age 64).
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 | Weld | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 825 |
1,884Highest |
459Lowest |
529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
64±6.7Highest 43% above ME |
41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.9%±4.8 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% |
44.4%±12.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
42.1%Highest 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% |
1.7%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$62,083±$11k 17% below ME |
$56,667±$15kLowest 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 |
$268,600±$17kHighest 9% below ME |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $894±$162 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610 47% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,308 57% below ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Columbia and Mapleton 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% |
6.5%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% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1951Lowest 26 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 |
30 min 21% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±8.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Weld 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.