Compare towns
Appleton vs Bingham vs Solon 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%).
Bingham has the most affordable homes ($103k median).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Bingham | Solon | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
660Lowest |
963 |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
56±8.2Highest 25% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Bingham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty and Solon 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% |
38.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bingham 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% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Bingham 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 |
$42,708±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$71,146±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
| Liberty and Solon 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 |
$103,000±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Appleton and Liberty 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 |
$354±$264Lowest 69% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$559±$193 51% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,059Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±45.9 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
38 min 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 83/MSAD 13 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3 |
— | — |
| 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.