Compare towns
Appleton vs Athens vs Newburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Newburgh has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Athens | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
791Lowest |
1,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average |
| Newburgh and Appleton 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 |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$244,600±$20kHighest 18% below ME |
| Newburgh and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% 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 |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Athens Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.