Compare towns

Palmyra vs Mapleton vs Chesterville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Palmyra has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Chesterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

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.

MeasurePalmyraMapletonChesterville
People
Population
2,209Highest
1,884
1,397Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-1.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.1±4.8Lowest
17% below ME
41.8±6Highest
7% below ME
37.8±4
16% below ME
Mapleton and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
29.2%±5.8
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
31.3%±6.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
Chesterville and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.7%±5.3
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
15%±3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Mapleton and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
13.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
20.4%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$60,543±$17kLowest
19% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$61,635±$10k
18% below ME
Mapleton and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$154,900±$34kLowest
48% below ME
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$214,000±$40kHighest
28% below ME
Chesterville and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$733±$119
36% below ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,088±$73Highest
4% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,614Lowest
47% below ME
$1,789
41% below ME
$2,194Highest
28% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.2%±14.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
21.8%±30.8
ME: 48.4%
Palmyra and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.1%
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
12%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
86.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1994Highest
17 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
14% below ME
28 minHighest
13% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
Work from home
7.5%±4.1
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Mapleton and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 79/MSAD 01 —
High school 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.