Compare towns
Otis vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Swans Island
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 highest household income ($101k).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Swans Island has the shortest commute (12 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.
| Measure | Otis | Appleton | Mapleton | Swans Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.8±9.5 18% above ME |
| Otis and Swans Island 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%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6 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% |
28.1%±10.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Swans Island 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
37.9%Highest 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% |
1.8%±3.4 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±$27kHighest 35% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$86,250±$13k 15% above ME |
| Otis and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$316,700±$75kHighest 7% above ME |
| Swans Island and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734 37% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$2,125±$556Highest 87% above ME |
| Swans Island and Otis 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 |
$2,420 20% 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% |
40%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Swans Island 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% |
1.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
12 minLowest 51% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otis Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | MSAD 76 |
| 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.