Compare towns
Mercer vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Smithfield
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 homeowners (92.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 718Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield and Appleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Mercer 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 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 | $71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
| Smithfield and Mercer 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
| Mercer and Smithfield 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Smithfield 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Mercer 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.