Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Thomaston 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Warren has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Thomaston | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,769 |
4,932Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
| Thomaston 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% |
19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Thomaston 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Appleton 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% |
30.9% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Warren 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 |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$232,700±$32k 22% below ME |
| Thomaston 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 |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$1,125±$456 about the ME average |
| Thomaston and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above 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% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Warren and Appleton 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 | — | — | #99 of 133 in ME | #120 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 13 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.