Compare towns
Appleton vs Brownfield vs Hiram 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).
Hiram has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Hiram | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,830 |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME |
41.6±10.2 7% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
20.9%±3.9 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%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Brownfield 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% ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest 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% |
2.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest 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 |
$60,889±$5k 19% below ME |
$62,813±$10k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Hiram 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 |
$256,600±$42k 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Brownfield and Hiram 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 |
$1,070±$161 6% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Brownfield 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 |
$2,976 about the ME average |
$2,106 31% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.8%±43.7 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brownfield 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% 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 |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
44 minHighest 80% above ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 55/MSAD 55 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sacopee Valley High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.