Compare towns
Appleton vs Islesboro vs Mapleton vs Wayne
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%).
Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Islesboro | Mapleton | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
636Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
57±8.4Highest 27% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
| Islesboro and Wayne 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% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 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% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Islesboro and Wayne 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% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$88,438±$44k 18% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$288,800±$140k about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Islesboro 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 |
$938±$252 18% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Appleton and Wayne 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 |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Islesboro 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% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 38 |
| 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 | 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.