Compare towns
Mapleton vs Middlesex vs Ripton vs Pittston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Pittston has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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.
| Measure | Mapleton | Middlesex | Ripton | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,943 |
508Lowest |
3,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$86,614±$18kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,080±$593 24% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.



