Compare towns
Lubec vs Mapleton vs Liberty vs Patten
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lubec has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Liberty has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Patten has the most affordable homes ($128k 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 | Lubec | Mapleton | Liberty | Patten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,346 |
1,884Highest |
969Lowest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 59.3±4.5Highest 32% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
57.8±3.5 29% above ME |
| Lubec and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 41.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Lubec and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Lubec and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,375±$11k 30% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME |
| Mapleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $188,700±$26k 36% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$229,600±$31kHighest 23% below ME |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME |
| Liberty and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $550±$204 52% below ME |
$610±$277Highest 46% below ME |
$559±$193 51% below ME |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
| Mapleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,039 33% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,434Highest 20% below ME |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±25.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Patten and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1966 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.3%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Patten and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 85/MSAD 19 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| 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.