Compare towns
Wayne vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Islesboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 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 | Wayne | Appleton | Mapleton | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
57±8.4Highest 27% above ME |
| Islesboro and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Islesboro and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$88,438±$44k 18% above ME |
| Wayne and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$288,800±$140k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$938±$252 18% below ME |
| Appleton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289 8% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 38 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school 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.