Compare towns
Owls Head vs Appleton vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Owls Head has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Owls Head | Appleton | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,482 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±6.6Highest 17% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Owls Head and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Owls Head and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest 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 | $87,325±$7k 17% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Owls Head are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,300±$43kHighest 39% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$386Highest 5% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Owls Head and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,981 about the ME average |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.9%±51.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Owls Head are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 34% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Owls Head and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 13 | 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 |
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.