Compare towns
Warren vs Mapleton vs Starks vs Waldoboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Waldoboro has the most expensive homes ($275k 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 | Warren | Mapleton | Starks | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
1,884 |
556Lowest |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
| Waldoboro and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Waldoboro and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
| Mapleton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,700±$32k 22% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$456Highest about the ME average |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
| Warren and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,832 7% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,861Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±29.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Warren and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
25 min 3% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.6%±9.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Warren and Mapleton 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 | #120 of 133 in ME | — | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.