Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Sabattus vs Wales
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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Sabattus has the most affordable homes ($180k median).
Wales has the most kids (30.2% under 18).
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 | Sabattus | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
5,116Highest |
1,924 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
51.2±4.6Highest 14% above ME |
35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME |
| Sabattus 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%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wales and Mapleton 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% |
24.4%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Sabattus 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% |
17.1% ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.6%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±3.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Sabattus and Wales 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 |
$59,387±$6k 21% below ME |
$77,004±$5k 3% above ME |
| Mapleton and Wales 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$180,000±$39kLowest 39% below ME |
$250,400±$28kHighest 16% below ME |
| Wales 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 |
$949±$23 17% below ME |
$1,154±$64Highest about the ME average |
| Wales 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,151 29% below ME |
$2,578 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.7%±51 ME: 48.4% |
83.3%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Wales 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% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.5%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wales and Sabattus 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 | — | — | #129 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 04 | RSU 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Oak Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.