Compare towns
Middlesex vs Starks vs Mapleton vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Starks | Mapleton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
556Lowest |
1,884 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Starks and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.