Compare towns
Brownfield vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Fryeburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Fryeburg has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Brownfield | Appleton | Mapleton | Fryeburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,830 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
3,489Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
53.3±3.4Highest 19% above ME |
| Fryeburg and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
12.9%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.5%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,889±$5k 19% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,076±$15k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,500±$36kHighest 3% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$268,600±$30k 9% below ME |
| Brownfield and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$893±$85 22% below ME |
| Brownfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,976 about the ME average |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,928 4% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.8%±43.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
52.8%±14.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 80% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 | — | — | — | #103 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.