Compare towns
Charlotte vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Meddybemps
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Meddybemps has the oldest population (median age 63.9).
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 | Charlotte | Mapleton | Appleton | Meddybemps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 377 |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
139Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±3.1 8% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
63.9±4.2Highest 43% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±10.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
5%±21.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±7.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
39.6%±15.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Meddybemps 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
14.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$18k 9% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$48,000±$13kLowest 36% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$295,000±$73kHighest about the ME average |
| Meddybemps and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,000 34% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,206Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Meddybemps and Appleton 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 2%±2.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.4%±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 | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.