Compare towns
Mapleton vs Starks vs Jay 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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Starks | Jay | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
556 |
471Lowest |
3,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Jay and Starks 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% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Starks and Pittston 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% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston 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 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Pittston and Jay 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. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
— | $1,080±$593Highest 24% below U.S. |
| Pittston and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittston and Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Mapleton 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.