Compare towns
Mapleton vs Nelson vs Sullivan 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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Sullivan has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Nelson | Sullivan | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
648Lowest |
687 |
3,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston 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 14% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$86,614±$18kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$236,500±$29k 29% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Pittston 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. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,080±$593 24% below U.S. |
| Sullivan and Nelson 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittston and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Nelson School District | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school 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.