Compare towns
Appleton vs Augusta vs Limerick vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Augusta | Limerick | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
19,077Highest |
3,400 |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Limerick 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% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Augusta 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% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont 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 |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
| Limerick and Searsmont 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 |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Searsmont and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$940±$311 17% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Augusta 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% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Limerick 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— | — |
| 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.