Compare towns

Charlotte vs Appleton vs Chapman

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlotte has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).

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.

MeasureCharlotteAppletonChapman
People
Population
377Lowest
1,360Highest
388
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
48.6±3.1
8% above ME
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
45.7±11.4Lowest
about the ME average
Appleton and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±10.4
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
27.6%±5.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Chapman and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±7.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
27.6%±3.8Highest
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+
28.8%
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
22.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Chapman and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,813±$18k
9% below ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$93,125±$17kHighest
25% above ME
Chapman and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$140,800±$30kLowest
53% below ME
$235,600±$33kHighest
21% below ME
$185,700±$22k
37% below ME
Appleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,104±$82
3% below ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,000
34% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$1,850Lowest
39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.5%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the ME average
30 minHighest
23% above ME
23 minLowest
6% below ME
Work from home
2%±2.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
4.8%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
Appleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Appleton Public Schools —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.