Compare towns

Smyrna vs Appleton vs Mapleton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smyrna has the most kids (33.2% under 18).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).

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.

MeasureSmyrnaAppletonMapleton
People
Population
380Lowest
1,360
1,884Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
31±9.6Lowest
31% below ME
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
41.8±6
7% 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
33.2%±5.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
Age 65+
10.8%±4.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1
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+
17.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.3%±2.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
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
$57,750±$19k
23% below ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
Mapleton and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$117,100±$10kLowest
61% below ME
$235,600±$33kHighest
21% below ME
$191,800±$23k
35% 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
$425±$63Lowest
63% below ME
$1,104±$82Highest
3% below ME
$610±$277
46% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,200Lowest
60% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$1,789
41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5
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
15.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
same as ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
37% below ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
Work from home
6.4%±6.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
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
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.