Compare towns
Oakland vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Poland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Poland has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Oakland | Appleton | Mapleton | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,309Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
5,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$85,557±$23k 14% above ME |
| Mapleton and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
| Poland and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$74 18% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
| Poland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,439 20% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,774 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | — | — | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | Messalonskee High School | None in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
— | — | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.