Compare towns
Mapleton vs Warren vs Penobscot
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 most kids (22.2% under 18).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Warren | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
4,932Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot 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%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Warren 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 |
$232,700±$32k 22% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,125±$456 about the ME average |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Warren 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 |
$2,832Highest 7% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Warren 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% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Warren 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 | — | #120 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Penobscot 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 |
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.

