Compare towns
Mapleton vs Jackson vs Island Falls
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Island Falls has the most affordable homes ($108k 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 | Jackson | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
567Lowest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
50.7±10.6Highest 13% above ME |
| Island Falls 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Island Falls 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 |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$56,328±$8kLowest 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Jackson 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 |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$108,300±$25kLowest 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$629±$12 45% below ME |
$636±$124Highest 44% below ME |
| Island Falls and Jackson 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 |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,720Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Island Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.