Compare towns
Carmel vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Milford
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 expensive homes ($257k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941 |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
3,095Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.3±6 3% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Carmel 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Milford and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$85,111±$26k 14% above ME |
| Mapleton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$176,400±$48kLowest 41% below ME |
| Carmel and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$943±$57 17% below ME |
| Carmel and Appleton 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.6%±48.2 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Milford and Appleton 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 | — | — | #75 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Milford Public Schools |
| 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.