Compare towns
Anson vs Appleton vs Chapman vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Anson | Appleton | Chapman | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
1,360 |
388Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5 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 | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.