Compare towns
Steep Falls vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Bradley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steep Falls has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Bradley has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Steep Falls | Appleton | Mapleton | Bradley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,861 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
42.6±9.7 5% below ME |
| Appleton and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.9%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.5%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Lowest 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 | $80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$76,667±$28k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,400±$31kHighest 18% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$201,800±$37k 32% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,088±$325 4% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,273 8% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,946 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±36.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±22.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bradley and Appleton 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 34 |
| 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.