What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

South Thomaston has the most expensive homes ($341k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mapleton	South Thomaston
People
Population	1,884Highest	1,381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME	54.3±11.3Highest 21% above ME
	South Thomaston and Mapleton 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%	13.8%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mapleton and South Thomaston 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%	34.8%±8.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	44.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	9%±9.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	South Thomaston 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±$25kHighest 23% above ME	$86,838±$7kLowest 16% above ME
	Mapleton and South Thomaston 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	$341,300±$37kHighest 15% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME	$925±$633Highest 19% below ME
	South Thomaston and Mapleton 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	$3,442Highest 13% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	63.6%±43.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	South Thomaston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	16 minLowest 36% below ME
Work from home	10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	8.3%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Mapleton and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 79/MSAD 01	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.