Compare towns
Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Sullivan vs Chapman
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Sullivan has the most people working from home (12.6%).
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 | Mars Hill | Sullivan | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
1,398 |
1,246 |
388Lowest |
| 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 |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
| Sullivan and Chapman 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%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Lowest 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%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Sullivan 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 |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$59,643±$14kLowest 20% 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 |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% 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 |
$1,850 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 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 |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest 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 | 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.