Compare towns
Andover vs Appleton vs Lee vs Roxbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Roxbury has the most affordable homes ($106k 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 | Andover | Appleton | Lee | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 679 |
1,360Highest |
925 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
59.8±3.4Highest 33% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±3.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
6%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±10.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Andover and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,922±$9k 33% below ME |
$53,618±$19kHighest 28% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$51,667±$34k 31% below ME |
| Appleton and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,300±$22k 43% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$105,800±$48kLowest 64% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,513 50% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$850Lowest 72% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Andover and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.1% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97% ME: 74.3% |
94.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
29 minLowest 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
5.2%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Andover Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — |
| 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.