Compare towns
Mapleton vs Athens vs Cherryfield vs Chapman
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Cherryfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Athens | Cherryfield | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
791 |
809 |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
| Cherryfield and Athens 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% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman 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% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Chapman 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% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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±$25k 23% above ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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 |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$195,800±$53kHighest 34% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Highest 46% below ME |
$538±$457 53% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
— |
| Mapleton and Athens 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 |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Cherryfield 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% |
23.3% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield 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 | Athens Public Schools | Cherryfield Public Schools | — |
| 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.