Compare towns
Appleton vs Enfield vs Lowell 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).
Enfield has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Lowell has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Enfield | Lowell | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,462 |
378Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.8±5.4 11% above ME |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Lowell and Enfield 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% |
18.5%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Enfield 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% |
28%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lowell and Enfield 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% |
24%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$62,667±$7k 16% below ME |
$50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Enfield 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 |
$178,100±$22kLowest 40% below ME |
$209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Appleton and Lowell 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 |
$425±$422Lowest 63% below ME |
— | $610±$277 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,152 29% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
58.3%±64.3 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Lowell 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% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | — | 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.