Compare towns
Mapleton vs Appleton vs Brighton vs Pittston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Brighton | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,360 |
1,167Lowest |
3,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Appleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Pittston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,080±$593 24% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Appleton 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 | — | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Brighton School District | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.