Compare towns
Crystal vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Island Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Crystal has the oldest population (median age 63.2).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Crystal | Appleton | Mapleton | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 247Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 63.2±8.4Highest 41% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
| Crystal and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±11.8 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$13kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $129,200±$60k 56% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$108,300±$25kLowest 63% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$922Highest 37% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
| Crystal and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $943Lowest 69% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,720 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 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 | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.