Compare towns
Alfred vs Appleton vs Lyman vs Poland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Lyman has the most homeowners (95%).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
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 | Alfred | Appleton | Lyman | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
1,360Lowest |
4,612 |
5,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
44.2±9.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Lyman and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Poland and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Poland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
$85,557±$23k 14% above ME |
| Lyman and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$283,600±$44k 4% below ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,063±$522 7% below ME |
$1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
| Poland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 17% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$2,774 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Lyman 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | — | #40 of 133 in ME | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.