Compare towns
Starks vs Mapleton vs Clifton vs Blaine
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Clifton has the oldest population (median age 52.7).
Blaine has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Starks | Mapleton | Clifton | Blaine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,111 |
706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.7±7.1Highest 18% above ME |
46.3±17 3% above ME |
| Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Blaine and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±7.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.1% ME: 36.2% |
20%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Clifton and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
$80,707±$24k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$202,500±$67kHighest 32% below ME |
— |
| Clifton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME |
$691±$303 39% below ME |
| Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,838Highest 39% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school 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.