Compare towns
Paris vs Mapleton vs Norway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paris has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Norway has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Paris | Mapleton | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,317Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,173 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±5.6Highest 8% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.6±5 about the ME average |
| Paris and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.6%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Paris and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,137±$20k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$43,432±$4kLowest 42% below ME |
| Mapleton and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$57kHighest 19% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$162,000±$34kLowest 45% below ME |
| Paris and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$759±$86Highest 33% 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 | $2,649Highest 13% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,424Lowest 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Paris and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
30.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 9% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Paris 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 | #114 of 133 in ME | — | #79 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.