Compare towns
Jackson vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Industry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Industry has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Mapleton | Appleton | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.6±10.7 9% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±6.3Highest 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+ | 17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±6.6 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+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.2 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 | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$63,056±$19k 16% below ME |
| Mapleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$205,600±$31k 31% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12 45% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,049±$137 8% 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 | $2,651 13% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,793 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.9%±38.2 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 | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
86%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Appleton 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 | — |
| High school 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.