Compare towns
Appleton vs Topsfield 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 people working from home (11.1%).
Topsfield has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
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 | Topsfield | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
214Lowest |
388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
63.5±4.9Highest 42% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±10.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
44.9%±12.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±5.3Lowest 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$48,125±$16kLowest 36% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$141,700±$32kLowest 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±$82 3% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$957Lowest 68% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Chapman 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% |
13.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.5% 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 min 23% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | East Range CSD | — |
| 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.