Compare towns
Mapleton vs Penobscot vs Saco
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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Penobscot | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,154Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot 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% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco 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 23% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
| Saco 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
| Saco and Penobscot 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 |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Saco 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% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Penobscot 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 | — | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.