Compare towns

Newburgh vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Carmel

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureNewburghAppletonMapletonCarmel
People
Population
1,475
1,360Lowest
1,884
2,941Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.6%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.8±5.7
about the ME average
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
46.4±4.5
4% above ME
Appleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.6%±4.3
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.4
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
16.5%±5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.9%
ME: 36.2%
34.1%
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
17.2%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.7
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.9%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,750±$10k
about the ME average
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$82,188±$22k
10% above ME
Mapleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$244,600±$20k
18% below ME
$235,600±$33k
21% below ME
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$256,800±$37kHighest
13% below ME
Carmel and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$950±$219
17% below ME
$1,104±$82
3% below ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,276±$187Highest
12% above ME
Carmel and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,748
9% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$2,662
12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±13.9
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±38.1
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.7%
ME: 10.7%
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%
ME: 74.3%
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
87.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
1988
11 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
23% above ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
25 minLowest
about the ME average
Work from home
6.4%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
6.5%±4.4
ME: 15.9%
Appleton and Mapleton 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 — — — #77 of 133 in ME
School district — Appleton Public Schools RSU 79/MSAD 01 RSU 87/MSAD 23
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.