Compare towns
Washburn vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Wade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Wade has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Washburn | Appleton | Mapleton | Wade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,355 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
| Wade and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | $56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$157,100±$109k 47% 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 | $482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8 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 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | Washburn District High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.