Compare towns
Robbinston vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Harrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Harrington has the most affordable homes ($145k 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 | Robbinston | Appleton | Mapleton | Harrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 621Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±2.7 7% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±12.1Highest 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Harrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Harrington and Robbinston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.5Lowest 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 | $68,333±$13k 9% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$64,861±$17k 13% below ME |
| Mapleton and Robbinston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $228,000±$41k 23% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$144,600±$71kLowest 51% below ME |
| Appleton and Robbinston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$808Highest 8% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Robbinston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,777 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±26.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
79.3%±39 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Harrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 9% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest 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 | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Narraguagus High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.