Compare towns
Otis vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most expensive homes ($283k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
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 | Otis | Appleton | Mapleton | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 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 | $101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,500±$23kHighest 5% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
| Otis and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,263 25% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otis Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.