Compare towns
Albion vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Unity
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 oldest population (median age 52.9).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,204Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
1,858 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% 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% |
14%±3.6 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+ | 26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
| Mapleton and Unity 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% 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±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,987 35% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,510 17% 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% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Albion 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 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 |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.4 |
| 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.