Compare towns
Appleton vs Jefferson vs Mapleton vs Sebago
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).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sebago has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Jefferson | Mapleton | Sebago |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,647Highest |
1,884 |
2,073 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.7±3.9 9% 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% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson 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% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Jefferson 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% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson 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 |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$78,438±$15k 5% above ME |
| Mapleton and Jefferson 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 |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$298,000±$46k about the ME average |
| Jefferson and Sebago 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 |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,533±$292Highest 35% above ME |
| Sebago and Jefferson 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 |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,543 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.3%±30.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Sebago 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
37 minHighest 52% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sebago 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 | — | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sebago Public Schools |
| 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.