Compare towns
Mapleton vs Augusta vs Salem vs Castle Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Castle Hill has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Augusta | Salem | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
19,077 |
30,964Highest |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Salem 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 14% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$54,250±$14k 33% below U.S. |
| Salem 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 42% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$950±$574 33% below U.S. |
| Salem and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$2,465 21% below U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castle Hill and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Augusta 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | Salem High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.