Compare towns
Appleton vs Biddeford vs Chapman
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).
Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Biddeford | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
22,498Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Chapman 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% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman and Biddeford 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 |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Biddeford 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% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Biddeford 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 | — | #111 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.