Compare towns
Appleton vs Bowdoin vs Hollis 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).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Bowdoin | Hollis | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,188 |
4,872Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
43.8±4.2 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Bowdoin 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% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.8%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Hollis 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 |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$95,950±$24kHighest 28% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Hollis 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 |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
$338,900±$27kHighest 14% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Hollis and Bowdoin 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 |
— | $1,372±$293Highest 20% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Hollis 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 |
$3,375 11% above ME |
$2,625 14% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.9%±30.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hollis 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% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
87.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hollis and Bowdoin 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 | — | #28 of 133 in ME | #88 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.