Compare towns
Liberty vs Mapleton vs Paris vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Liberty has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Paris has the most renters (39.8% rent).
Alna has the most expensive homes ($367k 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 | Liberty | Mapleton | Paris | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 969 |
1,884 |
5,317Highest |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
48.2±5.6Highest 8% above ME |
40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
| Paris and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Paris and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,146±$15kLowest 5% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$75,137±$20k about the ME average |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alna and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$240,400±$57k 19% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
— | $1,088±$176Highest 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,434 20% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,649 13% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Paris and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Paris and Alna 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 | — | — | #114 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | — |
| 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.