Compare towns
Appleton vs Chapman vs Mapleton vs Newport
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 most expensive homes ($236k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Newport has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Chapman | Mapleton | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
388Lowest |
1,884 |
3,143Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.3±3.2Highest 12% above ME |
| Newport and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman 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% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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 |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$60,365±$13k 19% below ME |
| Chapman 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±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$234,800±$30k 21% below ME |
| Appleton and Newport 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 |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$893±$104 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,018 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
44.3%±16.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newport 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.7%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Newport and Appleton 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 | — | — | — | #97 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 19 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Nokomis Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.3 |
| 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.