Compare towns
Appleton vs Arundel vs Mapleton vs New Gloucester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Arundel has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
New Gloucester has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Arundel | Mapleton | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
4,418 |
1,884 |
5,766Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.9±6.4 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
20.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
29.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$101,597±$17k 36% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
| New Gloucester and Arundel 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 |
$421,300±$62kHighest 42% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$357,100±$29k 20% above ME |
| Arundel and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,607±$495Highest 41% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,150±$249 about the ME average |
| Arundel and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$3,763Highest 24% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,417 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.2%±22.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
7%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| New Gloucester and Appleton 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 | — | #7 of 133 in ME | — | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 21 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| 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.