Compare towns

Levant vs Ludlow vs Mapleton vs Mechanic Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Levant has the youngest population (median age 39.7).
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($134k median).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Mechanic Falls has the most kids (24.1% 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.

MeasureLevantLudlowMapletonMechanic Falls
People
Population
3,069
444Lowest
1,884
3,134Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Highest
ME: +2.6%
—
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.5%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
39.7±2.2Lowest
11% below ME
46.1±5.8Highest
about the ME average
41.8±6
7% below ME
39.8±4.7
11% below ME
Ludlow and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.7%±5.9
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
24.1%±7.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
Mechanic Falls and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±4.9
ME: 22.4%
12.4%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
16.4%±6
ME: 22.4%
Mapleton and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.6%
ME: 36.2%
16.2%
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
15.6%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
2.7%±3.1
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
2%±2.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,071±$22k
15% above ME
$62,500±$21kLowest
16% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$69,914±$12k
6% below ME
Mapleton and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$268,500±$27k
9% below ME
$133,900±$56kLowest
55% below ME
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$270,900±$44kHighest
9% below ME
Mechanic Falls and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,370±$120Highest
20% above ME
$988±$111
13% below ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,076±$208
6% below ME
Levant and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,580
15% below ME
$1,655Lowest
45% below ME
$1,789
41% below ME
$2,993Highest
about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.7%±14Highest
ME: 48.4%
45.5%±94.3
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±20.9
ME: 48.4%
Levant and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
ME: 10.7%
15.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.2%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.4%
ME: 74.3%
90.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
79.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1995Highest
18 yrs newer than ME
1992
15 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
27% above ME
21 minLowest
15% below ME
28 min
13% above ME
26 min
5% above ME
Work from home
6.9%±5.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
9.8%±8
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
7.9%±4.9
ME: 15.9%
Mapleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #124 of 133 in ME — — #122 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 87/MSAD 23 — RSU 79/MSAD 01 RSU 16
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.