Compare towns
Appleton vs Columbia vs Knox 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).
Columbia has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Knox has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Columbia | Knox | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
529Lowest |
825 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Columbia 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% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Mapleton 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% |
25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Columbia 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% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia 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 |
$56,667±$15k 24% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Knox 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 |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
$159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$894±$162 22% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,610 47% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Columbia 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% |
13.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Knox 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.