Compare towns
Mapleton vs Jackson vs Mars Hill vs Chapman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most people working from home (15.3%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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 | Jackson | Mars Hill | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
567 |
1,398 |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
45.7±11.4Highest about the ME average |
| Chapman and Mars Hill 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mars Hill 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% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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±$25k 23% above ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$629±$12Highest 45% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
— |
| Jackson 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 |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton 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% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.