Compare towns
Limestone vs Mapleton vs Embden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Limestone | Mapleton | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,579 |
1,884Highest |
995Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
| Mapleton and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
| Mapleton and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $754±$233Highest 34% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Limestone and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,804Highest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±12.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Limestone and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

