Compare towns
Perry vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Mercer has the most expensive homes ($239k 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 | Perry | Appleton | Mapleton | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 744 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
| Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest 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 | $82,056±$4k 10% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
| Mapleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,132 3% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 6% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Perry 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.