Compare towns
Limerick vs Mapleton vs Benton vs Waterboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Waterboro has the most expensive homes ($297k 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 | Limerick | Mapleton | Benton | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,400 |
1,884Lowest |
2,770 |
8,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.8±6Highest 4% below ME |
42±3.1 6% below ME |
| Benton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waterboro and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$89,392±$16k 20% above ME |
| Limerick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$297,000±$23kHighest about the ME average |
| Waterboro and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,110±$123 about the ME average |
$1,200±$461 5% above ME |
| Limerick and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,520 17% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,772Highest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 53% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
35 min 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #85 of 133 in ME | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.