Compare towns
Appleton vs Friendship 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%).
Friendship has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | Friendship | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,213Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
55.5±6.9Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Friendship and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Appleton 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% |
37.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Friendship 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.8%±1.3Lowest 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$75,625±$22k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Friendship 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 |
$275,000±$56kHighest 7% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Friendship and Appleton 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 |
$1,370±$53Highest 20% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,218 27% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Friendship 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% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.9%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Friendship 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 40/MSAD 40 | 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 |
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.