Compare towns
Chapman vs Appleton vs Washington vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.6%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Chapman | Appleton | Washington | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
1,360 |
1,624 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington 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 |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 39% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 6% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school 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.