Compare towns
Lee vs Mapleton vs Perham vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (11.9%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Perham has the most affordable homes ($118k 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 | Lee | Mapleton | Perham | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
1,884Highest |
326Lowest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | -6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53±12.9Highest 18% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Perham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.6%±8.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.7% ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Mapleton and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Highest 46% below ME |
— | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Mapleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547 49% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,641 46% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Athens Public Schools |
| High school 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.