Compare towns
Appleton vs Franklin vs Hancock 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%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (12.2%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Franklin | Hancock | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,628 |
2,518Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Hancock 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% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Franklin 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% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock 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% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Franklin 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 |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Hancock 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 |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Hancock and Franklin 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 |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Hancock and Appleton 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 |
$2,231 27% below ME |
$1,869 38% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hancock 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% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | — | #117 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Hancock Public Schools | 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.