Compare towns
Mapleton vs Wells 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Wells | Saco | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
11,713 |
20,819Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
| Wells and Chapman 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% |
18%±3.4 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%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.3% 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% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
— |
| Wells and Saco 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 |
$3,215 6% above 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% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1989Highest 12 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 |
28 min 12% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.