Compare towns
Hollis vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Waterboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Waterboro has the most homeowners (90.1%).
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 | Hollis | Appleton | Mapleton | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,872 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
8,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±4.2 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
42±3.1 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waterboro and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Hollis and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,950±$24kHighest 28% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$89,392±$16k 20% above ME |
| Hollis and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,900±$27kHighest 14% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$297,000±$23k about the ME average |
| Hollis and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$293Highest 20% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,200±$461 5% above ME |
| Hollis and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,625 14% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,772 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±30.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hollis and Appleton 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 | #88 of 133 in ME | — | — | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.