Compare towns
Mapleton vs Gorham vs Sutton 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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
East Machias has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Gorham | Sutton | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
18,300Highest |
9,452 |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±2.9 10% above U.S. |
| Sutton and East Machias 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Machias and Mapleton 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Machias and Sutton 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$210,800±$23k 37% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$907±$566 36% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Sutton 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$1,836 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±40.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| East Machias and Sutton 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Gorham Public Schools | Sutton | East Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.