Compare towns
Appleton vs Belgrade vs Mapleton vs Orrington
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%).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,351 |
1,884 |
3,853Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.5±3.3Highest 10% above ME |
| Orrington 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% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade 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% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$94,556±$10kHighest 27% above ME |
| Orrington 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$309,000±$49k 4% above ME |
| Belgrade and Orrington 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 |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,167±$135Highest about the ME average |
| Orrington 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 |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,823 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Orrington 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 | — | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Orrington Public Schools |
| 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.