Compare towns
Lagrange vs Mapleton vs Starks vs Howland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lagrange has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
Howland has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
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 | Lagrange | Mapleton | Starks | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 709 |
1,884Highest |
556Lowest |
1,367 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±13.8 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME |
| Howland and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Howland and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,417±$14k 22% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Mapleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
| Mapleton and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $831±$151 27% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
| Starks and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $869Lowest 71% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,348 56% below ME |
$1,546 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Lagrange and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 45% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.1%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.