Compare towns
Mapleton vs Appleton vs Arundel
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%).
Arundel has the most expensive homes ($421k 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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Arundel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
4,418Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.9±6.4Lowest 9% 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 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
29.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest 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 | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$101,597±$17kHighest 36% above ME |
| Arundel and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$421,300±$62kHighest 42% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,607±$495Highest 41% above ME |
| Arundel and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,763Highest 24% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.2%±22.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7%±3.2Lowest 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 | — | — | #7 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.