Compare towns
Norway vs Mapleton vs South Paris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norway has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
South Paris has the shortest commute (14 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 | Norway | Mapleton | South Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,228Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,210 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±4.9Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.3±6.1 8% above ME |
| Norway and South Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.8%±8.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Paris and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.6%±6.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Norway and South Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,342±$17kLowest 27% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$55,074±$36k 26% below ME |
| Mapleton and South Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,800±$29k 27% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$219,700±$23kHighest 26% below ME |
| South Paris and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $770±$66Highest 32% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$528±$78Lowest 54% below ME |
| Norway and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,057Highest 32% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,836 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
69.5%±19.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Paris and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
26.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
51.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1961Lowest 16 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
14 minLowest 44% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
2%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Norway 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 | #79 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.