Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Medford vs Milo
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 most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Medford has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Milo has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Medford | Milo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,884 |
222Lowest |
2,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.5±8.8Highest 13% above ME |
43.9±7 about the ME average |
| Medford 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
3.2%±11.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Milo 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.7%±9.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Medford 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
10.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±6 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,476±$14k 12% below ME |
$56,875±$9k 24% below ME |
| Mapleton and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$88,200±$27kLowest 70% below ME |
$97,100±$27k 67% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $879±$400 23% below ME |
| Appleton and Milo 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,250Lowest 59% below ME |
$1,450 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Milo 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 minLowest 6% above ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±5 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 41/MSAD 41 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Penquis Valley Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.