Compare towns
Mapleton vs Appleton vs Cherryfield vs Washburn
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 highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Cherryfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Cherryfield | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
1,360 |
809Lowest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield 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 ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 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±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Appleton and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$482±$62 58% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield 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 | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.