Compare towns

Mapleton vs Appleton vs Chapman vs Castle Hill

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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k 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.

MeasureMapletonAppletonChapmanCastle Hill
People
Population
1,884Highest
1,360
388
281Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
— —
Median age
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
49.2±7.4
10% above ME
45.7±11.4
about the ME average
57.8±15.8Highest
29% above ME
Castle Hill and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
27.6%±5.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
14.2%±5.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
27.6%±3.8
ME: 22.4%
44.8%±6.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%
ME: 36.2%
22.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
26.7%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±5.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Chapman 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±$25k
23% above ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$93,125±$17kHighest
25% above ME
$54,250±$14k
27% below ME
Chapman 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±$23k
35% below ME
$235,600±$33kHighest
21% below ME
$185,700±$22k
37% below ME
$145,300±$18kLowest
51% 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
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,104±$82Highest
3% below ME
—
$950±$574
17% below ME
Appleton and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789
41% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$1,850
39% below ME
$1,449Lowest
52% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
75%±100
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Castle Hill 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%
6.4%
ME: 10.7%
4.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
94.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
same as ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
13% above ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
23 min
6% below ME
19 minLowest
24% below ME
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
4.8%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.3%±9.8
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 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.