Compare towns
Waldo vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Brooks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).
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 | Waldo | Appleton | Mapleton | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 926Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
| Mapleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
| Appleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 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 | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None 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.