Compare towns
Wade vs Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Dennysville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dennysville has the most expensive homes ($219k 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 | Wade | Mapleton | Mars Hill | Dennysville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 244 |
1,884Highest |
1,398 |
218Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
57.5±6.5Highest 28% above ME |
| Dennysville and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.4%±9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±6.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Dennysville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $41,818±$25k 44% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$39,250±$25kLowest 47% below ME |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$163,600±$23k 45% below ME |
$218,800±$68kHighest 26% below ME |
| Dennysville and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Highest 46% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
— |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,843Highest 39% below ME |
$1,833 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dennysville and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
30.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1967 10 yrs older than ME |
1955 22 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.