Compare towns
Steep Falls vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Baldwin
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 kids (22.9% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Baldwin has the most expensive homes ($263k 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 | Steep Falls | Mapleton | Appleton | Baldwin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,861 |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
1,170Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
| Baldwin and Appleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Appleton 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
| 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±$31k 18% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
| Baldwin and Steep Falls 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±36.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8 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 | — | 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 | 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.