Compare towns
Alfred vs Appleton vs Glenburn vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Glenburn has the highest household income ($97k).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Alfred | Appleton | Glenburn | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
1,360Lowest |
4,737Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.7±4.4 6% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Glenburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
20.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest 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 | $82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$97,474±$26kHighest 30% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Glenburn and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38kHighest 15% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$276,900±$49k 7% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Alfred and Glenburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432 9% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,143±$226Highest about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Glenburn and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 17% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,287 8% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
72.8%±31 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.2%±5.1 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | — | #39 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Appleton Public Schools | Glenburn Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.