Compare towns

Whiting vs Appleton vs Mapleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).

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.

MeasureWhitingAppletonMapleton
People
Population
506Lowest
1,360
1,884Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
50±5Highest
12% above ME
49.2±7.4
10% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
Whiting and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.8%±4.8
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.5%±6.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Whiting and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
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
$55,263±$2k
26% below ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$214,200±$52k
28% below ME
$235,600±$33kHighest
21% below ME
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
Appleton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$600±$333Lowest
47% below ME
$1,104±$82Highest
3% below ME
$610±$277
46% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,728Lowest
43% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$1,789
41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
4 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
10% below ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
Work from home
5.1%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Whiting Public Schools 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

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.