Compare towns
Steep Falls vs Mapleton vs North Windham vs Porter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steep Falls has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
North Windham has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Porter has the most homeowners (87.4%).
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 | Steep Falls | Mapleton | North Windham | Porter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,861 |
1,884 |
5,417Highest |
1,746Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
42±3 6% below ME |
40.9±7.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Steep Falls and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Porter and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
37%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$88,522±$8k 18% above ME |
$60,417±$9kLowest 19% below ME |
| Mapleton and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$342,800±$29kHighest 16% above ME |
$226,100±$20k 24% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,248±$604 10% above ME |
— |
| Steep Falls and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,273 8% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,546Highest 17% above ME |
$1,841 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.7%±14.3 ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| North Windham and Porter 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.