Compare towns
Appleton vs Brunswick vs Gorham 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).
Brunswick has the most renters (33.7% rent).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Brunswick | Gorham | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
17,652 |
18,300Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% 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% |
16.1%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Gorham 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% |
23%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brunswick and Gorham 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 |
$70,722±$5k 5% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Gorham and Mapleton 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 |
$363,200±$18k 22% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,465±$100 29% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Gorham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,477 47% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
58.8%±9.2 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brunswick 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% |
8.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Brunswick 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 | — | #30 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.