Compare towns
West Paris vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Paris has the most people working from home (23.8%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | West Paris | Mapleton | Appleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,808 |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±7.9 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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 | $56,324±$5k 25% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,000±$20k 35% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Appleton and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$333 26% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,083 31% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None 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.