Compare towns
Appleton vs Hallowell vs Liberty vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Hallowell | Liberty | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,592Highest |
969Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Hallowell 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% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Liberty 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% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hallowell 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% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Mapleton 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 |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Liberty 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 |
$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Hallowell and Appleton 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 |
$890±$175 22% below ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
| Appleton and Hallowell 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 |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell and Liberty 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 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None 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.