Compare towns
Albion vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Benton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albion has the most people working from home (15.7%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Benton has the shortest commute (20 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 | Albion | Appleton | Mapleton | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,204 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,770Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
| Albion and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 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 | $62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
| Mapleton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,900±$31k 22% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
| Appleton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
| Benton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,987 35% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 36% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Albion 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 | — | — | — | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| 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.