Compare towns
Mapleton vs Peru vs Appleton
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).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Peru | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
1,501 |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| Appleton and Peru 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% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Peru 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% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Peru 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 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 |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Mapleton and Peru 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 |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% 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 |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Peru 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% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest 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 | RSU 56 | Appleton Public Schools |
| 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.