Compare towns
Presque Isle vs Mapleton vs Caribou
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Presque Isle has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Caribou has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Presque Isle | Mapleton | Caribou |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,736Highest |
1,884Lowest |
7,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±3.5 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
51.3±1.7Highest 15% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Presque Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Caribou and Presque Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Presque Isle and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,768±$6k 25% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,709±$9kLowest 28% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $147,200±$11k 50% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$134,100±$31kLowest 55% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $904±$54Highest 21% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$757±$143 34% below ME |
| Presque Isle and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,401Highest 21% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,680Lowest 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±9.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Presque Isle and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 41% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
15 min 40% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.5%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Caribou 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 | #62 of 133 in ME | — | #59 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 39 |
| High school in town | Presque Isle High School | None in town | Caribou High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| 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.