Compare towns
Appleton vs Beals vs Mapleton vs Orland
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%).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k 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 | Beals | Mapleton | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
498Lowest |
1,884 |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48±15.6 7% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
| Orland 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% |
16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Beals 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% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Orland 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% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$64,063±$14k 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Mapleton and Orland 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 |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Beals 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 |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
| Orland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Orland 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% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Beals and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Beals Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.