Compare towns
Knox vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Knox has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Princeton has the most kids (28.2% 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 | Knox | Appleton | Mapleton | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 825Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
866 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
39.1±9.4Lowest 13% 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 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
28.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Princeton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,406±$26k 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$120,800±$82kLowest 59% 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 | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$675±$351 41% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610 47% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,573Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
57.7%±23.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Knox 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 | Princeton Public Schools |
| 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.