Compare towns
Jefferson vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Whitefield has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Appleton | Mapleton | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$73,875±$10k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$895±$126 21% below ME |
| Jefferson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 15% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,366 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Whitefield 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None 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.