Compare towns
Waterboro vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Limerick
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 expensive homes ($297k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Limerick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,055Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
3,400 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42±3.1 6% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6 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+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
| Limerick 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±$23kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
| Waterboro and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$461 5% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
| Limerick and Waterboro 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 42% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
| Work from home | 10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Massabesic High School | 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.