Compare towns
Wesley vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wesley has the most affordable homes ($69k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Willimantic has the most kids (36.5% under 18).
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 | Wesley | Mapleton | Appleton | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 320 |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
200Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 37.3±3.1Lowest 17% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
38.5±11.9 14% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
36.5%±11.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Willimantic and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.5%±16.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
15.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4%±6.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$34k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$63,472±$52k 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $68,800±$21kLowest 77% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$131,700±$21k 56% 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 | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $558Lowest 82% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,285 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Appleton and Wesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 34.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
32.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 96% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 1.9%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Willimantic and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.