Compare towns
Appleton vs Lisbon vs Mapleton vs Oakland
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).
Lisbon has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Lisbon | Mapleton | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
9,750Highest |
1,884 |
6,309 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.2±6.9 10% 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% |
22.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Lisbon 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% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4 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% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Oakland 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 |
$77,819±$9k 4% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
| Mapleton and Lisbon 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 |
$258,300±$26kHighest 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
| Lisbon and Oakland 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 |
$979±$286 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
| Appleton and Lisbon 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 |
$3,324 9% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,439 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Oakland 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 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 |
29 min 17% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon 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 | — | #60 of 133 in ME | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lisbon High School | None in town | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.8Highest |
— | 14.2Lowest |
| 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.