Compare towns
Appleton vs Buckfield vs Hope 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).
Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k 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 | Buckfield | Hope | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,403Highest |
1,748 |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Hope 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% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 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 |
$77,917±$41k 4% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Hope 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 |
$227,700±$18k 23% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
| Hope and Appleton 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 |
$2,860 6% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 10 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2 |
— | — |
| 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.