Compare towns
Appleton vs Bowdoinham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bowdoinham has the most people working from home (22%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Bowdoinham | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,142Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.9±13.1Highest 16% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Bowdoinham 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% |
17.5%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Bowdoinham 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% |
21.4%±6.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Bowdoinham 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% |
43.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton 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 |
$108,479±$21kHighest 45% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Bowdoinham 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 |
$405,500±$105kHighest 37% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,958 about the ME average |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bowdoinham and Appleton 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% |
13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%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 |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
22%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoinham 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 | — | #73 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | 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 | 12 photos → | 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.