Compare towns
Otis vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Sweden
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Sweden has the most expensive homes ($311k median).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Sweden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705 |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.1±19.2 14% above ME |
| Otis and Sweden 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Sweden 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Otis 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±2.7 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$73,750±$25k about the ME average |
| 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$311,300±$61kHighest 5% above ME |
| Sweden 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,667±$815Highest 46% above ME |
| Sweden 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,598 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
8.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±3.9 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| 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.