Compare towns
Mapleton vs Ludlow vs Danforth vs East Machias
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).
Ludlow has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
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 | Ludlow | Danforth | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
444Lowest |
452 |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | -3.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
42.8±2.9 4% below ME |
| Danforth and Ludlow 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% |
22.7%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| East Machias and Ludlow 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% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and East Machias 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 |
$62,500±$21k 16% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$57,589±$10k 23% below ME |
| Mapleton and Ludlow 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 |
$133,900±$56k 55% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$210,800±$23kHighest 29% below ME |
| East Machias and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$988±$111Highest 13% below ME |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
$907±$566 20% below ME |
| Ludlow and East Machias 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 |
$1,655Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $1,836Highest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±94.3 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±40.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| East Machias and Ludlow 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% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
15.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±3.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — | East Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.