Compare towns
Mapleton vs Peru vs Middlesex 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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Pittston has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Peru | Middlesex | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
434Lowest |
1,943 |
3,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%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. |
45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Peru 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peru 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% |
54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston and Middlesex 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. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$86,614±$18kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Peru 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. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% below U.S. |
| Peru 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. |
$1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,080±$593 24% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Peru 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. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittston and Peru 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Peru 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 | 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.