Compare towns
Appleton vs Freeport vs Harpswell vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Freeport | Harpswell | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
8,802Highest |
5,046 |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Freeport 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% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Freeport and Harpswell 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 |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Harpswell and Freeport 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 |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Freeport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Freeport 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% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and Harpswell 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 | — | #4 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.