Compare towns
Appleton vs Bridgewater vs Mapleton vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Bridgewater | Mapleton | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,169Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont 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 34% below U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$940±$311 33% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,823 9% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,788 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Searsmont 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 | Newfound Area School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 71 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.