Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Poland vs Warren
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Poland has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Warren has the shortest commute (23 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 | Mapleton | Poland | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
5,954Highest |
4,932 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Poland 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% |
21.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Poland 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% |
17.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.8% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$85,557±$23k 14% above ME |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Poland 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 |
$283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
$232,700±$32k 22% below ME |
| Poland 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 |
$1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
$1,125±$456 about the ME average |
| Poland and Warren 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,774 9% below ME |
$2,832 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7 ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Poland 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% ME: 10.7% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Warren 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 | — | — | #81 of 133 in ME | #120 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 16 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.