Compare towns
Acton vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Newfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Newfield has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Acton | Appleton | Mapleton | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
1,580 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.8±8.1 18% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Newfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$57,188±$20k 23% below ME |
| Mapleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$318,100±$27k 7% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,402 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 64% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
49 minHighest 98% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Appleton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None 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.