Compare towns
Mercer vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Mercer | Appleton | Mapleton | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 718Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Mapleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
| Mercer and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970 35% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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 | 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.