Compare towns
Mapleton vs Reading vs Cavendish vs East Machias
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Cavendish has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
East Machias has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Reading | Cavendish | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
699Lowest |
1,242 |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
42.8±2.9 10% above U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Machias 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Cavendish 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$210,800±$23k 37% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish 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. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$907±$566 36% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$1,836 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±40.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and East Machias 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | East Machias Public Schools |
| 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 | 18 photos → | 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.