Compare towns
Mason vs Mapleton vs Sidney vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Mason | Mapleton | Sidney | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,884 |
4,790Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Webster and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Webster 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 | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Mason School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.