Compare towns
Topsfield vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Crystal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Crystal has the most affordable homes ($129k 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 | Topsfield | Appleton | Mapleton | Crystal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 214Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
247 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 63.5±4.9Highest 42% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
63.2±8.4 41% above ME |
| Topsfield and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±10.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±11.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.9%±12.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Crystal and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±6.3Lowest 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 | $48,125±$16kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$48,125±$13kLowest 36% below ME |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,700±$32k 52% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$129,200±$60kLowest 56% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,563±$922Highest 37% above ME |
| Crystal and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $957 68% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$943Lowest 69% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
14.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.1% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
0%±15.1Lowest 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 | East Range CSD | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.