Compare towns
Appleton vs Arrowsic vs Mapleton vs Phippsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arrowsic has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Phippsburg has the shortest commute (21 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 | Appleton | Arrowsic | Mapleton | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
597Lowest |
1,884 |
2,238Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.3±8.7 12% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
54.3±6.3Highest 21% above ME |
| Phippsburg and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Arrowsic and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±11.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Phippsburg and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
64.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
37.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$99,107±$27k 33% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| Phippsburg and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$584,200±$150kHighest 97% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$335,800±$47k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,600±$412Highest 40% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,022±$346 10% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,521 16% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,034 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.6%±9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Arrowsic and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school 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.