Compare towns
Whiting vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Amherst
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Amherst has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Whiting | Mapleton | Appleton | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 506 |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 50±5 12% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.9±9.9Highest 14% above ME |
| Amherst and Whiting 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±8.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Amherst 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
24.3%±2.9 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
31.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Amherst 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$72,656±$12k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,200±$52k 28% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$210,200±$38k 29% 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 |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,728 43% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,527Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Amherst 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
96.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 10% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Whiting Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| 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.