Compare towns
Freeport vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Camden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Camden has the shortest commute (22 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 | Freeport | Mapleton | Appleton | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
5,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.2±6.5Highest 17% above ME |
| Camden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
38%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Camden and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
62.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$82,344±$15k 10% above ME |
| Freeport and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$520,600±$70kHighest 76% above ME |
| Camden and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,269±$354 11% above ME |
| Freeport and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 66% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$5,832Highest 92% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
39.9%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Camden and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 133 in ME | — | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — | — |
| 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.