Compare towns
Pittston vs Mapleton vs Palmyra vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Palmyra has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k 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 | Pittston | Mapleton | Palmyra | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,093Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,209 |
2,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±5.9 8% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME |
38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±7.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Jefferson and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,614±$18k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
| Mapleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,700±$66k 20% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
| Jefferson and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$593 5% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$733±$119 36% below ME |
$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
| Jefferson and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,909 37% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±34.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Pittston and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson 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 | #123 of 133 in ME | — | — | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Jefferson Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.