Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Howland 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).
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Howland has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Hope | Howland | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
1,367 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Howland 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Howland 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% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Hope 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$150,100±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Hope and Appleton 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 |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.