Compare towns
Otis vs Mapleton vs Sweden vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the highest household income ($101k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sweden has the most expensive homes ($311k median).
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
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 | Otis | Mapleton | Sweden | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705 |
1,884 |
537Lowest |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
51.1±19.2 14% above ME |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
| Otis and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±8 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Ellsworth and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.5% ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,250±$27kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$73,750±$25kLowest about the ME average |
$77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
| Otis and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$311,300±$61kHighest 5% above ME |
$242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
| Sweden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734 37% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,667±$815Highest 46% above ME |
$1,017±$195 11% below ME |
| Sweden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,263 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,598 14% below ME |
$3,262Highest 7% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
8.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Sweden 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 | — | — | — | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Otis Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.