Compare towns
Appleton vs Owls Head vs Chapman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Owls Head has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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 | Owls Head | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,482Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.6±6.6Highest 17% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Owls Head 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% |
13.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.9%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Owls Head and Chapman 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% |
39.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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 |
$87,325±$7k 17% above ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman and Owls Head 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 |
$413,300±$43kHighest 39% above ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,191±$386Highest 5% above ME |
— |
| Owls Head 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 |
$2,981 about the ME average |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.9%±51.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Owls Head 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% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
16 minLowest 34% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
13.3%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Owls Head and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 13 | — |
| 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.