Compare towns
Lyman vs Mapleton vs Danforth vs Alfred
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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 | Lyman | Mapleton | Danforth | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
1,884 |
666Lowest |
3,125 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
| Lyman and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
| Mapleton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,035±$432 9% below ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717 11% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,543Highest 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.6%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | — | — | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| 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.