Compare towns
Appleton vs Brooks vs Jackson 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).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Brooks | Jackson | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,208 |
567Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Brooks 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% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Brooks 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% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 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% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks 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 |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson 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 |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
$629±$12 45% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Brooks 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 |
$2,096 31% below ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brooks 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% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | 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.