Compare towns
Mapleton vs Unity vs Beals 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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Beals has the most people working from home (17.6%).
East Machias has the shortest commute (18 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 | Unity | Beals | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
1,375 |
498Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
48±15.6 23% above U.S. |
42.8±2.9 10% above U.S. |
| Unity and Beals 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.1%±6.5 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Beals 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Beals 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$64,063±$14k 21% below U.S. |
$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$256,700±$45k 23% below U.S. |
$210,800±$23k 37% below U.S. |
| Unity and Beals 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$907±$378 36% below U.S. |
$907±$566 36% below U.S. |
| Unity and Beals 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,580 17% below U.S. |
$1,836 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±40.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| East Machias and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±10.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beals and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | Beals Public Schools | 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 | 4 photos → | 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.