Compare towns
Appleton vs Mars Hill vs Castle Hill
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).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Castle Hill has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Mars Hill | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,398Highest |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
| Castle Hill 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% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Appleton 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% |
24.5%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill 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 |
$65,273±$9kHighest 13% below ME |
$54,250±$14k 27% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Castle Hill 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 |
$163,600±$23k 45% below ME |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$950±$574 17% below ME |
| Appleton and Castle Hill 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 |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Castle Hill 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% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.