Compare towns
Industry vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Anson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Industry has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
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 | Industry | Mapleton | Appleton | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 988Lowest |
1,884 |
1,360 |
2,331Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.6±10.7Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 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 | $63,056±$19k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Mapleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,600±$31k 31% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,049±$137 8% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$928±$62 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,793 41% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.9%±38.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 67% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.