Compare towns
Levant vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% 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 | Levant | Mapleton | Appleton | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,069Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
2,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.7±2.2 11% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% 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 | 19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest 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+ | 18.1%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 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 | $86,071±$22k 15% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
| Mapleton and Levant 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
| Jefferson 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
| Levant and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,580 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±14 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 27% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Jefferson Public Schools |
| 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.