Compare towns
Appleton vs Bridgton vs Denmark 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%).
Bridgton has the most expensive homes ($317k median).
Denmark has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Bridgton | Denmark | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
5,642Highest |
1,054Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.9±9.9 about the ME average |
54.4±5Highest 21% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Denmark 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% |
18%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Bridgton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Bridgton 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% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Denmark 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 |
$77,500±$24k 4% above ME |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Bridgton 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 |
$316,600±$37kHighest 7% above ME |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Bridgton and Denmark 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 |
$1,188±$218 4% above ME |
$1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Denmark and Bridgton 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 |
$2,929 4% below ME |
$2,259 26% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
30.7%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark 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% |
12.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.8% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%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 |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
13.4%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bridgton and Denmark 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 | — | #106 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | — | 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 | 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.