Compare towns
Searsmont vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs New Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
New Sharon has the most affordable homes ($171k 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 | Searsmont | Appleton | Mapleton | New Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,646 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,550 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.9±8.9 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,889±$21k 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$171,200±$21kLowest 42% below ME |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $940±$311 17% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$961±$55 16% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,788 8% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,889 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61%±38 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 71 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 09 |
| High school in town | None 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.