Compare towns

Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Sullivan

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).
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sullivan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

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.

MeasureMapletonMars HillSullivan
People
Population
1,884Highest
1,398
1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
-8.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-1.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
43.4±3
3% below ME
47.1±15Highest
5% above ME
Sullivan 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%
22.9%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
18%±5.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Mars Hill and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
24.5%±5.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.5%±2.9
ME: 22.4%
Mars Hill and Sullivan 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%
26%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
26%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
4.8%±3.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.1%±4Highest
ME: 5.8%
Sullivan 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±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$65,273±$9k
13% below ME
$59,643±$14kLowest
20% below ME
Mapleton and Mars Hill 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
$163,600±$23kLowest
45% below ME
$222,000±$33kHighest
25% below ME
Sullivan and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277
46% below ME
$488±$96Lowest
57% below ME
$883±$114Highest
22% below ME
Sullivan 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
$1,843
39% below ME
$2,228Highest
27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
30.6%±7.1
ME: 48.4%
34.9%±23.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Sullivan and Mars Hill 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%
9.6%
ME: 10.7%
13.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
70.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
85.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
same as ME
1967Lowest
10 yrs older than ME
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
13% above ME
21 minLowest
14% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
6.9%±6.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
12.6%±7.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
Sullivan 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 RSU 24
High school in town None in town Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S Sumner Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.0Lowest
10.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.