Compare towns
Steep Falls vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Parsonsfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Parsonsfield has the most expensive homes ($272k 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 | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,861 |
1,884Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,715 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.3±5.9 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Parsonsfield and Steep Falls 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%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18%±3.6 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+ | 14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$72,045±$18k 4% 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 |
$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME |
| Parsonsfield 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 |
$1,185±$312 4% above ME |
| Steep Falls and Parsonsfield 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 |
$2,350 23% 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% |
78.2%±35 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
48 minHighest 97% 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% |
5.1%±4.2 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.