Compare towns

Appleton vs Mapleton vs Orient

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Orient has the most people working from home (81%).

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.

MeasureAppletonMapletonOrient
People
Population
1,360
1,884Highest
137Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
49.2±7.4
10% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
62±9Highest
38% above ME
Orient and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.8%±18.9
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Orient 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%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
46%±10.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.1%
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
25%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
0%±11.4Lowest
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
—
Mapleton and Appleton 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
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$548,600±$183kHighest
85% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82Highest
3% below ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
—
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
100%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Orient and Appleton 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%
35.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
93.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
23% above ME
28 minLowest
13% above ME
—
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
81%±44Highest
ME: 15.9%
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

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.