Compare towns
Palmyra vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Chesterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Palmyra has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% 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 | Palmyra | Mapleton | Appleton | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,209Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.8±4 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±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+ | 13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
| Mapleton and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
| Appleton and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$119 36% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,088±$73 4% below ME |
| Appleton and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.