Compare towns

Randolph vs Mapleton vs Appleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

MeasureRandolphMapletonAppleton
People
Population
1,610
1,884Highest
1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.6%
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.6±3.4Highest
11% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
49.2±7.4
10% above ME
Randolph and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.7%±4.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7
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+
27.8%±2.9Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
Randolph and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
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
$66,574±$16k
11% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
Mapleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$174,300±$21kLowest
41% below ME
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$235,600±$33kHighest
21% below ME
Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,186±$207Highest
4% above ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,104±$82
3% below ME
Randolph and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,160
29% below ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.3%±8.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
18 yrs older than ME
1977
same as ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
7% below ME
28 min
13% above ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
Work from home
4.3%±3.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Highest
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

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.