Compare towns
Appleton vs Lake Arrowhead vs Limerick 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).
Lake Arrowhead has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Lake Arrowhead | Limerick | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,322 |
3,400Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME |
40.4±9.2 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% |
26.9%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Lake Arrowhead 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% |
7.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
26.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lake Arrowhead 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 |
$98,654±$9k 32% above ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Limerick and Lake Arrowhead 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 |
$267,300±$19k 10% below ME |
$269,400±$29kHighest 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Limerick and Lake Arrowhead 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 |
$2,288±$327Highest 101% above ME |
$1,758±$407 54% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Lake Arrowhead and Limerick 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 |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Limerick 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% |
2.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1994 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
38 min 53% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick 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 | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school 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.