Compare towns
Deer Isle vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Stonington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deer Isle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Stonington has the shortest commute (16 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 | Deer Isle | Mapleton | Appleton | Stonington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,470Highest |
1,884 |
1,360 |
840Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±5.6 17% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
58.2±7.4Highest 30% above ME |
| Stonington and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
10.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Stonington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.5Lowest 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 | $62,284±$15k 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$60,223±$16k 19% below ME |
| Mapleton and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $308,300±$42kHighest 4% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$306,700±$146k 3% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$823±$172 28% below ME |
| Deer Isle and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,890 38% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,819 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.4%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.8%±18.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 17% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
16 minLowest 36% below ME |
| Work from home | 22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.1%±12.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Deer Isle and Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.