Compare towns
Mapleton vs Belgrade vs Augusta vs Castle Hill
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).
Belgrade has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k 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 | Belgrade | Augusta | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
3,351 |
19,077Highest |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
| Castle Hill and Belgrade 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% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade 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% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade 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 |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$54,250±$14k 27% below ME |
| Mapleton and Belgrade 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 |
$312,200±$44kHighest 5% above ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$950±$574Highest 17% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Augusta 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 |
$2,859Highest 6% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Cony | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 17.9 |
— |
| 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.