Compare towns
Lubec vs Mapleton vs Thomaston 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 oldest population (median age 59.3).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Thomaston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
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 | Thomaston | Patten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,346 |
1,884 |
2,769Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 59.3±4.5Highest 32% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
58.1±6.6 30% above ME |
57.8±3.5 29% above ME |
| Lubec and Thomaston 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% |
19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Thomaston 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% |
35.5%±8.6 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.9% 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% |
1.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME |
| Mapleton and Thomaston 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 |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $550±$204 52% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,039 33% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above 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% |
60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston and Patten 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% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 17 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1966 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.3%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #99 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 85/MSAD 19 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 13 | — |
| 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.