Compare towns
Appleton vs Peru vs Chapman
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).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Peru | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,501Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Peru 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% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman and Peru 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 |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
| Appleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Peru 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% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 56 | — |
| 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.