Compare towns
Appleton vs Arrowsic vs Mapleton vs Washburn
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 expensive homes ($584k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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 | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
597Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.3±8.7Highest 12% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
| Arrowsic and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 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%±11.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Arrowsic and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
64.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 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±$27kHighest 33% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Arrowsic and Mapleton 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,600±$412Highest 40% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,521 16% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% 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% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older 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 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.6%±9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Arrowsic and Appleton 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 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.