Compare towns
Carmel vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Hermon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Carmel | Appleton | Mapleton | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
6,727Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME |
| Appleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.6%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$96,629±$22kHighest 29% above ME |
| Hermon and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$333,600±$32kHighest 12% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 12% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME |
| Hermon and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 12% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,761 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996 19 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.6 |
| 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.