Compare towns
Warren vs Strong vs Mapleton vs Oakland
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%).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Strong | Mapleton | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
1,249Lowest |
1,884 |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
| Strong and Warren 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% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Mapleton 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% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
| Mapleton and Oakland 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 |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME |
| Oakland 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 |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
| Warren and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,832Highest 7% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,439 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Warren 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Warren 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 | — | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.2 |
| 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.