Compare towns
Lowell vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most homeowners (88.5%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Waltham has the most people working from home (13.4%).
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 | Lowell | Appleton | Mapleton | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 378 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
346Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
56.4±9.3Highest 26% above ME |
| Waltham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15%±8.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.9%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Waltham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | $50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$71,071±$14k 5% below ME |
| Mapleton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$181,300±$22kLowest 39% below ME |
| Appleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$850±$567 25% below ME |
| Appleton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478 51% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,452Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
15%±96.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.4%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — |
| 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.