Compare towns
Appleton vs Charlotte vs Cooper 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 most expensive homes ($236k median).
Charlotte has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Cooper has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Charlotte | Cooper | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
377 |
157Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.6±3.1 8% above ME |
46.5±9.1 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Charlotte 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% |
21.8%±10.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±17 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Charlotte 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% |
21.8%±7.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±14 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Cooper 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% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±9.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$67,813±$18k 9% below ME |
$48,750±$15kLowest 35% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Charlotte 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 |
$140,800±$30kLowest 53% below ME |
$212,500±$66k 28% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Appleton and Cooper 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 |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,000 34% below ME |
$1,929 36% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | — | 16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
22.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
20.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
98.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
44 minHighest 78% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
2%±2.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Cooper 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.