Compare towns
Levant vs Appleton vs Stetson vs Mechanic Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Levant has the highest household income ($86k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Stetson has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Mechanic Falls has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Levant | Appleton | Stetson | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,069 |
1,360 |
1,151Lowest |
3,134Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.7±2.2Lowest 11% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
39.8±4.7 11% below ME |
| Appleton and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mechanic Falls and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.4%±6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,071±$22kHighest 15% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$69,914±$12k 6% below ME |
| Levant and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,500±$27k 9% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$205,700±$34kLowest 31% below ME |
$270,900±$44kHighest 9% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
$1,076±$208 6% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,580 15% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,962Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,993 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±14 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 27% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Stetson 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 | #124 of 133 in ME | — | — | #122 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 16 |
| 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.