Compare towns
Appleton vs Baldwin vs Dixmont vs Liberty
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%).
Baldwin has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Liberty has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Baldwin | Dixmont | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,170 |
1,207 |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Dixmont and Baldwin 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% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty and Dixmont 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% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin 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% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Dixmont 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 |
$68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$75,952±$14kHighest about the ME average |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Dixmont and Liberty 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 |
$263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$190,700±$22kLowest 36% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Baldwin and Appleton 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 |
— | $1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Dixmont 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
35 min 40% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 19 | 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.