Compare towns
Appleton vs Denmark vs Dresden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Denmark has the most people working from home (12.7%).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Denmark | Dresden | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,054Lowest |
1,645 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
54.4±5 21% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Dresden and Denmark 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% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Dresden 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% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark 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% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Denmark 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 |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Dresden 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 |
$250,000±$68kHighest 16% below ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Denmark and Dresden 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 |
$1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Denmark and Dresden 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 |
$2,259 26% below ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Appleton 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 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 |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Denmark 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 02 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None 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.