Compare towns
Marshfield vs Mapleton vs Machias vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Machias has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 62.1).
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 | Marshfield | Mapleton | Machias | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 499 |
1,884 |
2,020Highest |
263Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±7.8 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.8±9.6Lowest 9% below ME |
62.1±16.2Highest 39% above ME |
| Northfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
11.4%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Marshfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
39.2%±9.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
16%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
12.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$5k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$34,375±$16kLowest 54% below ME |
$68,333±$52k 9% below ME |
| Mapleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,900±$42k 35% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$141,300±$17kLowest 52% below ME |
$198,600±$64kHighest 33% below ME |
| Northfield and Marshfield 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 |
$692±$276Highest 39% below ME |
— |
| Machias and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,342Highest 23% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,885 38% below ME |
$1,773Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.9%±22.3 ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Marshfield and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
20.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
49.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 13 minLowest 46% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
16 min 33% below ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11%±7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±9.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Machias and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Machias Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Machias Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.