Compare towns
Appleton vs Bradley vs Mapleton vs Steep Falls
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).
Bradley has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Steep Falls has the most expensive homes ($243k 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 | Bradley | Mapleton | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,645 |
1,884Highest |
1,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.6±9.7 5% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Steep Falls 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% |
21.9%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls 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% |
19.5%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Bradley 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% |
22.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 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 |
$76,667±$28k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
| Mapleton and Steep Falls 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 |
$201,800±$37k 32% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$243,400±$31kHighest 18% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Appleton 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 |
$1,088±$325 4% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
| Steep Falls 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 |
$1,946 36% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,273 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±22.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Steep Falls 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% |
4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bradley and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 34 | 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.