Compare towns
Mapleton vs Calais vs Putney vs East Machias
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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
East Machias has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Calais | Putney | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,713 |
2,622Highest |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.8±2.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
| East Machias and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Machias and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Calais 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±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$210,800±$23k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$907±$566 36% below U.S. |
| Calais and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$1,836 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±40.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| East Machias and Putney 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% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | East Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.