Compare towns
Appleton vs Belgrade vs Chapman 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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Belgrade | Chapman | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,351Highest |
388Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Belgrade 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% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Belgrade 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% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman 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% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Chapman 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 |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Chapman 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 |
$312,200±$44kHighest 5% above ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Belgrade 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 |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Belgrade 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% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | — | 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.