Compare towns
Mapleton vs Waldo vs Saco vs Chapman
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Waldo | Saco | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
926 |
20,819Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
45.7±11.4Highest about the ME average |
| Chapman and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman and Saco 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 |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
— |
| Saco and Waldo 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 |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Saco 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% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Waldo 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 | — | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Waldo-Region 7 | Saco Public Schools | — |
| 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 |
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.