Compare towns
Appleton vs Madison vs Mapleton vs Paris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Paris has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Madison | Mapleton | Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,676 |
1,884 |
5,317Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.2±5.6 8% above ME |
| Appleton and Paris 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% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Paris 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% |
22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Paris 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% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$75,137±$20k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Paris 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 |
$163,900±$59kLowest 45% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$240,400±$57kHighest 19% below ME |
| Paris and Appleton 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 |
$850±$218 25% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Appleton and Madison 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 |
$1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,649 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Paris 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% |
13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
60.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Paris 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 | — | — | — | #114 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| 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.