Compare towns
Wesley vs Mapleton vs Merrill vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wesley has the most affordable homes ($69k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Merrill has the most kids (41.7% under 18).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 62.1).
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 | Wesley | Mapleton | Merrill | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 320 |
1,884Highest |
372 |
263Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.3±3.1 17% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
33.2±9.9Lowest 26% below ME |
62.1±16.2Highest 39% above ME |
| Northfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.4%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
14%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.2%±9.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
40.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Wesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$34kLowest 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,536±$8k 12% below ME |
$68,333±$52k 9% below ME |
| Mapleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $68,800±$21kLowest 77% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$131,600±$21k 56% below ME |
$198,600±$64kHighest 33% below ME |
| Northfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $558Lowest 82% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
$1,773 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Merrill and Wesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 34.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 96% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 1.9%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Merrill and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school 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.