Compare towns
North Berwick vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | North Berwick | Mapleton | Appleton | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,129Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Appleton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
| North Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$116 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,735Highest 23% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.2%±28.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 27% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| North Berwick and Sidney 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 | #82 of 133 in ME | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Noble High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.