Compare towns
Madison vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Machias
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Machias has the shortest commute (16 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 | Madison | Appleton | Mapleton | Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,020 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.8±9.6Lowest 9% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
12.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$34,375±$16kLowest 54% below ME |
| Mapleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$141,300±$17kLowest 52% 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 | $850±$218 25% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$692±$276 39% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,885 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.9%±22.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
49.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
16 minLowest 33% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Machias 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 | Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Machias Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.