Compare towns
Appleton vs Augusta vs Hallowell vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Hallowell has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Augusta | Hallowell | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
19,077Highest |
2,592 |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Hallowell and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Augusta 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% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hallowell 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% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Hallowell 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 |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Hallowell and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$890±$175 22% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Augusta 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% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
58.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell and Augusta 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 02 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— | — |
| 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.