Compare towns
Wesley vs Mapleton vs Merrill vs Smyrna
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 most expensive homes ($192k median).
Merrill has the most kids (41.7% under 18).
Smyrna has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 320Lowest |
1,884Highest |
372 |
380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.3±3.1 17% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
33.2±9.9 26% below ME |
31±9.6Lowest 31% below ME |
| Mapleton and Wesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
33.2%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Merrill and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
14%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
10.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Wesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest 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% |
0.3%±2.9Lowest 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±$34k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,536±$8k 12% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Mapleton and Merrill 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±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$131,600±$21k 56% below ME |
$117,100±$10k 61% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Highest 46% below ME |
— | $425±$63Lowest 63% below ME |
| Mapleton and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $558Lowest 82% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
$1,200 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
60%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 96% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
15 minLowest 37% below ME |
| Work from home | 1.9%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±6.1 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.