Compare towns
Appleton vs West Gardiner vs Mapleton vs Liberty
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%).
West Gardiner has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | West Gardiner | Mapleton | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,696Highest |
1,884 |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Appleton and West Gardiner 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% |
18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
32.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton 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 |
$96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton 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 |
$305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| West Gardiner and Appleton 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 |
$1,087±$150 5% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Appleton and West Gardiner 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 |
$2,282 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and West Gardiner 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty and West Gardiner 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 | — | #90 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.