Compare towns
Mapleton vs West Gardiner vs Danforth 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
West Gardiner has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Washburn has the shortest commute (21 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 | West Gardiner | Danforth | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
3,696Highest |
452Lowest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
| Danforth and Washburn 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% |
18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest 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% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washburn and Danforth 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% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner 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±$25k 23% above ME |
$96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton 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 |
$305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$112,900±$14k 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,087±$150Highest 5% below ME |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$2,282Highest 25% below ME |
— | $1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| West Gardiner and Washburn 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| West Gardiner 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 | — | #90 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | — | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.