Compare towns
Appleton vs Hancock vs Mapleton vs Sullivan
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%).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Sullivan has the most people working from home (12.6%).
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 | Hancock | Mapleton | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,518Highest |
1,884 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.1±15 5% above 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% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Sullivan 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% |
30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 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% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan 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 |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below 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 |
$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
| Hancock 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 |
$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$883±$114 22% 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 |
$1,869 38% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 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% |
8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sullivan 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 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.