Compare towns
Mapleton vs Anson vs Limestone vs East Machias
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Anson has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Limestone has the most people working from home (14.5%).
East Machias has the most expensive homes ($211k 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 | Mapleton | Anson | Limestone | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
2,331Highest |
1,579 |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±6.2Highest 4% above ME |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
42.8±2.9 4% below ME |
| Anson and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| East Machias and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Limestone and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.3% ME: 36.2% |
33.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8 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 | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$57,589±$10k 23% below ME |
| Mapleton and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$117,800±$14k 60% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$210,800±$23kHighest 29% below ME |
| East Machias and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
$754±$233 34% below ME |
$907±$566 20% below ME |
| Anson and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$1,572 48% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,836Highest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±40.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| East Machias and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±3.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Limestone and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | East Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Carrabec High School | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.