Compare towns
Appleton vs Avon vs Bridgewater
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 most expensive homes ($236k median).
Avon has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Avon | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
359Lowest |
484 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.1±5.1Lowest 5% above ME |
48.8±8 9% above ME |
| Appleton and Bridgewater 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%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Avon and Bridgewater 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% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bridgewater 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
18.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±4.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Bridgewater 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 |
$63,125±$32k 16% below ME |
$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
$154,900±$78k 48% below ME |
| Appleton and Bridgewater 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 |
$465±$30Lowest 59% below ME |
$768±$116 33% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,469 52% below ME |
$1,417Lowest 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
90%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Avon 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 71% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school 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.