Compare towns
Mapleton vs Unity vs Alfred 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 the highest household income ($92k).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Alfred | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,858 |
3,125Highest |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washburn and Alfred 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Alfred and Washburn 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$342,300±$38kHighest 15% above ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,035±$432Highest 9% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Alfred and Unity 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,543Highest 17% above ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 | — | — | #74 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
— | 12.0Lowest |
| 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.