Compare towns
Mapleton vs Solon vs Anson vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Washburn has the shortest commute (21 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 | Solon | Anson | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
963Lowest |
2,331Highest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washburn and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Anson 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washburn and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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 23% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$117,800±$14k 60% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Mapleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Anson and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$1,854Highest 39% below ME |
$1,572 48% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washburn and Anson 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% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Carrabec High School | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.