Compare towns
Temple vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the most kids (32.8% under 18).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Cambridge has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Temple | Appleton | Mapleton | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 824 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 34±14Lowest 24% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
38.7±1.1 14% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 32.8%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±8.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Temple and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±6.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±3Lowest 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 | $56,087±$2k 25% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,194±$39k 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,200±$79k 29% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$214,900±$61k 28% below ME |
| Appleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Temple and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,367 22% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,574Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.3%±70.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 37% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
41 minHighest 65% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.5%±8.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.5Lowest 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 | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.