Compare towns
Mercer vs Mapleton vs Perry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Mercer | Mapleton | Perry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718Lowest |
1,884Highest |
744 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.5±11.4Highest about the ME average |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$82,056±$4k 10% above ME |
| Mapleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
| Mercer and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970 35% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 minLowest 6% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Perry Public Schools |
| High school 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.