Compare towns
Waterboro vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs North Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterboro has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
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 | Waterboro | Appleton | Mapleton | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,055Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42±3.1 6% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Waterboro and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,392±$16k 20% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
| North Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $297,000±$23k about the ME average |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,105±$116 about the ME average |
| Waterboro and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,772 9% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,735Highest 23% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| North Berwick 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 | #80 of 133 in ME | — | — | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Massabesic High School | None in town | None in town | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 12.0Lowest |
| 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.