Compare towns
Appleton vs Acton vs Liberty vs Newburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Appleton | Acton | Liberty | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,721Highest |
969Lowest |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Acton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
$2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
38 min 56% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Liberty 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Acton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| 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.