Compare towns
Turner vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Carmel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Turner has the most expensive homes ($285k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Turner | Appleton | Mapleton | Carmel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,891Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,941 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.6±4.3 6% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
| Appleton and Turner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Turner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Turner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,036±$28kHighest 34% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
| Turner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,900±$50kHighest 4% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
| Turner and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $584±$490Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
| Carmel and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,294 24% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,662 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±64.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 | #33 of 133 in ME | — | — | #77 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 52/MSAD 52 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 |
| High school in town | Leavitt Area High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.