Compare towns
Somerville vs Mapleton vs Washington vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.6%).
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 | Somerville | Mapleton | Washington | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 837Lowest |
1,884 |
1,624 |
2,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
| Washington and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Washington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Washington 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 | — | — | — | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.