Compare towns
Appleton vs Baldwin vs Sebago 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 the shortest commute (30 min average).
Baldwin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Sebago has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Liberty has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
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 | Sebago | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,170 |
2,073Highest |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
40.7±3.9 9% below ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Baldwin 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% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sebago and Liberty 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
23.7%Lowest 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% |
2.7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin 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 |
$68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$78,438±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Sebago 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±$38k 11% below ME |
$298,000±$46kHighest about the ME average |
$229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
| Sebago and Baldwin 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 |
— | $1,533±$292Highest 35% above ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
$2,543 16% below ME |
$2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.3%±30.3 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Sebago 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% |
13.7% ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
37 min 52% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Sebago 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 | — | Sebago 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.