Compare towns
Mapleton vs Appleton vs Orono vs East Machias
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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
East Machias has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Orono is a college town. 56.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Orono | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,360 |
11,902Highest |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME |
42.8±2.9 4% below ME |
| Appleton and East Machias 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% |
6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| East Machias and Mapleton 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% |
11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
66.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$61,528±$5k 18% below ME |
$57,589±$10k 23% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$272,600±$40kHighest 8% below ME |
$210,800±$23k 29% below ME |
| Orono and Appleton 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±$82 3% below ME |
$1,255±$112Highest 10% above ME |
$907±$566 20% below ME |
| Orono 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 |
$4,830Highest 59% above ME |
$1,836 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
58.1%±10.6 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±40.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Orono 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% |
24.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
18 min 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.3%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Orono 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 | — | — | #26 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 26 | East Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Orono High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.