Compare towns
Appleton vs Hermon 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
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Hermon | Liberty | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
6,727Highest |
969Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.1±4.7 8% below ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
21.6%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Hermon 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 |
$96,629±$22kHighest 29% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Hermon and Mapleton 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 |
$333,600±$32kHighest 12% above ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,761 9% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1 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% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty 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 | — | #54 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hermon Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hermon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— | — |
| 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.