Compare towns
Wiscasset vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wiscasset has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% 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 | Wiscasset | Appleton | Mapleton | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,874Highest |
1,360 |
1,884 |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±6.3 9% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Appleton and Wiscasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±6.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wiscasset and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest 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 | $71,118±$37k 5% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alna and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,200±$26k 10% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Alna and Wiscasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,518±$485Highest 33% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,088±$176 4% below ME |
| Wiscasset and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,550 17% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.6%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.4%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wiscasset and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #108 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Wiscasset Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | Wiscasset Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
— | — | — |
| 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.