What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).

Bucksport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mapleton	Bucksport
People
Population	1,884Lowest	5,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME	42.7±12.2Highest 5% below ME
	Bucksport and Mapleton 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%	17.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mapleton and Bucksport 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%	26.6%±7.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bucksport and Mapleton 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%	27.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	2.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Mapleton and Bucksport 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	$64,720±$21kLowest 13% below ME
	Mapleton and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME	$252,300±$32kHighest 15% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME	$882±$92Highest 23% below ME
	Bucksport and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,789Lowest 41% below ME	$2,021Highest 33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	48.9%±17Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Mapleton and Bucksport 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	—	#68 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 79/MSAD 01	RSU 25
High school in town	None in town	Bucksport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.