Compare towns
Standish vs Steep Falls vs Mapleton vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Standish has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Standish | Steep Falls | Mapleton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,662Highest |
1,861Lowest |
1,884 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,593±$15k 40% above ME |
$80,280±$33kLowest 7% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,000±$18kHighest 13% above ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Standish and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$453 14% below ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Steep Falls and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005 about the ME average |
$3,273 8% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.3 ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Standish 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | — | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Bonny Eagle High School | — | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | — | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.