Compare towns
Appleton vs Lowell vs Mapleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Lowell | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
378Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Lowell and Appleton 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% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Lowell 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% ME: 36.2% |
30%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Union 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 |
$209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Lowell 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% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.