Compare towns
Sullivan vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Gouldsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Gouldsboro has the most people working from home (15.8%).
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 | Sullivan | Appleton | Mapleton | Gouldsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,246Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
1,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15 5% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
60.2±5.2Highest 34% above ME |
| Gouldsboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.8%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Gouldsboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$60,873±$7k 19% below ME |
| Mapleton and Gouldsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
| Gouldsboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $883±$114 22% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,298±$507Highest 14% above ME |
| Gouldsboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,228 27% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,305 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80.8%±28.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Gouldsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Gouldsboro and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 24 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.