Compare towns
Steep Falls vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Standish
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Standish has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,861 |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
10,662Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
36%Highest 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% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME |
| Standish and Mapleton 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 |
$336,000±$18kHighest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$983±$453 14% 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 |
$3,005 about the ME average |
| 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% |
57.4%±22.3 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Standish and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.