Compare towns
Wade vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Dennysville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Dennysville has the oldest population (median age 57.5).
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 | Wade | Appleton | Mapleton | Dennysville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 244 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
218Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
57.5±6.5Highest 28% above ME |
| Dennysville and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.4%±9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±6.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Dennysville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
36.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2 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 | $41,818±$25k 44% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$39,250±$25kLowest 47% 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 | $157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$218,800±$68k 26% below ME |
| Appleton and Dennysville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655Lowest 45% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,833 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Dennysville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
30.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1955 22 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8%±6.2Lowest 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.