Compare towns
Appleton vs Kittery vs Mapleton vs Saco
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).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Kittery | Mapleton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
10,473 |
1,884 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.8±2.3 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Kittery 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Saco 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Kittery 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
46%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco 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 |
$93,728±$14kHighest 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Kittery and Saco 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 |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Kittery and Saco 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 |
$4,518 49% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery and Saco 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.