Compare towns
Ludlow vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Smyrna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Smyrna has the most kids (33.2% 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 | Ludlow | Appleton | Mapleton | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 444 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
380Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
31±9.6Lowest 31% below ME |
| Appleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
33.2%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Smyrna and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
10.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | $62,500±$21k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Mapleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,900±$56k 55% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$117,100±$10kLowest 61% 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 | $988±$111 13% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$425±$63Lowest 63% below ME |
| Appleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±94.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
15 minLowest 37% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±6.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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.