Compare towns
Madison vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Anson
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%).
Mapleton has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
1,884 |
1,360 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.3±15.2 3% 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$87,770±$61k 17% above ME |
| Mapleton and Anson 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$914±$247 20% below ME |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,740 43% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 24 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| 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.