Compare towns
New Vineyard vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Vineyard has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k 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 | New Vineyard | Appleton | Mapleton | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 607Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±9.5 6% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.5%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| New Vineyard and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| New Vineyard and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 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 | $61,806±$19k 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Mapleton and New Vineyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,000±$76k 36% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% 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 | $925±$490 19% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Appleton and New Vineyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,136 30% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±5.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.6% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.7%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| New Vineyard and Appleton 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 | Athens 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 | 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.