What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Gardiner	Mapleton
People
Population	3,696Highest	1,884Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.5±2.8Highest about the ME average	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME
	West Gardiner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mapleton and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mapleton and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	West Gardiner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME	$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME
	West Gardiner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average	$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,087±$150Highest 5% below ME	$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,282Highest 25% below ME	$1,789Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	9%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the ME average	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	13.8%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9%	10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	West Gardiner 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	#90 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 11/MSAD 11	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.