Compare towns
Randolph vs Mapleton vs Howland vs West Paris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.6%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Howland has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
West Paris has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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.
| Measure | Randolph | Mapleton | Howland | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,610 |
1,884Highest |
1,367Lowest |
1,808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
46±7.9 about the ME average |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Randolph and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,574±$16k 11% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$56,324±$5k 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,300±$21k 41% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$150,100±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
$193,000±$20kHighest 35% below ME |
| West Paris and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
$838±$333 26% below ME |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,160Highest 29% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,083 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
61.5%±34.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Paris and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
24.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.3%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.