Compare towns
Newfield vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfield has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Newfield | Appleton | Mapleton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,580 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,721Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±8.1 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±6Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Newfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 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 | $57,188±$20k 23% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
| Mapleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,100±$27k 7% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,402 21% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 49 minHighest 98% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
40 min 64% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Appleton 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 | — | — | — | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.