Compare towns
Waldoboro vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waldoboro has the most expensive homes ($275k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Warren has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Waldoboro | Mapleton | Appleton | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,253Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
4,932 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$232,700±$32k 22% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,125±$456Highest about the ME average |
| Warren and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,861 6% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,832 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±15.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 3% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Warren and Appleton 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 | #55 of 133 in ME | — | — | #120 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Medomak Valley High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.