Compare towns
Topsfield vs Mapleton vs Crystal vs Byron
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Crystal has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Byron has the most affordable homes ($123k 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 | Topsfield | Mapleton | Crystal | Byron |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 214 |
1,884Highest |
247 |
174Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 63.5±4.9Highest 42% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
63.2±8.4 41% above ME |
58.9±12.3 31% above ME |
| Topsfield and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±10.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±11.8 ME: 18.1% |
1.1%±16.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.9%±12.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.4%±13.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Crystal and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.9% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±6.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
0%±8.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$16kLowest 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$48,125±$13kLowest 36% below ME |
$90,417±$53k 21% above ME |
| Mapleton and Byron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,700±$32k 52% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$129,200±$60k 56% below ME |
$122,700±$61kLowest 59% below ME |
| Mapleton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,563±$922Highest 37% above ME |
— |
| Crystal and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $957 68% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$943Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,301 57% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 16.7%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Mapleton and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.7% ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.8% ME: 74.3% |
97.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 39% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
43 minHighest 74% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | East Range CSD | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school 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.