Compare towns
Waterville 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
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Oakland has the most kids (29.1% 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 | Waterville | Mapleton | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,077Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5 21% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
32.6±5.5Lowest 27% below ME |
| Mapleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
29.1%±8Highest 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+ | 18.3%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.5%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$44,848±$19kLowest 40% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,600±$21k 38% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$167,000±$65kLowest 44% below ME |
| Mapleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72Highest 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$956±$119 16% below ME |
| Waterville and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,755Highest 9% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,149 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.6%±24.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 27% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
19 min 22% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waterville Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.