Compare towns
Mapleton vs Athens vs Strong
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).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
791Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.7±7.2Highest 6% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Athens and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Athens 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%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Strong 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% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Athens 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 |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Mapleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong and Mapleton 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 |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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 |
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.