Compare towns
Hudson vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Alton has the most people working from home (15.3%).
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 | Hudson | Appleton | Mapleton | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,305 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
819Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±6.1 6% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
| Appleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hudson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,933±$12k 9% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $157,300±$9kLowest 47% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$179,500±$25k 39% 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 | $1,086±$307 5% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$866±$48 24% below ME |
| Appleton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,543 49% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,476Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.3%±51.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Alton and Appleton 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 | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.