Compare towns
Appleton vs Carthage vs Mapleton vs Weld
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carthage has the most affordable homes ($144k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Weld has the most people working from home (15.6%).
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 | Carthage | Mapleton | Weld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
845 |
1,884Highest |
459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
42.8±10.9 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
64±6.7Highest 43% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Weld 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% |
10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
44.4%±12.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Weld 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% |
13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
42.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$79,107±$18k 6% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,083±$11k 17% below ME |
| Mapleton and Carthage 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 |
$144,300±$41kLowest 51% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$268,600±$17kHighest 9% below ME |
| Weld and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$811±$262 29% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Appleton and Carthage 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 |
$1,239Lowest 59% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,308 57% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
3.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±8.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Weld 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 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school 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.