Compare towns
Anson vs Appleton vs Embden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Anson | Appleton | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
1,360 |
995Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Embden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$56,875±$23kHighest 24% below ME |
| Embden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
| Appleton and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.