Compare towns
Appleton vs Brownfield 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%).
Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Denmark has the most people working from home (12.7%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Brownfield | Denmark | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,830 |
1,054Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME |
54.4±5Highest 21% above ME |
41.8±6 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% |
26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Mapleton 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% |
18.5%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark 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% ME: 36.2% |
25.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$60,889±$5k 19% below ME |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Denmark 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 |
$287,500±$36kHighest 3% below ME |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Brownfield 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 |
$1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
$1,409±$207 24% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Brownfield and Denmark 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 |
$2,976 about the ME average |
$2,259 26% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
61.8%±43.7 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.7% 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 |
1987 10 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 |
44 minHighest 80% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Denmark 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 72/MSAD 72 | — | 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.