Compare towns

Appleton vs Bowdoinham vs Newburgh

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%).
Bowdoinham has the most people working from home (22%).
Newburgh has the most kids (18.8% 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.

MeasureAppletonBowdoinhamNewburgh
People
Population
1,360Lowest
3,142Highest
1,475
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+5.5%
ME: +2.6%
+2.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±7.4
10% above ME
51.9±13.1Highest
16% above ME
45.8±5.7Lowest
about the ME average
Bowdoinham 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%
17.5%±6.8
ME: 18.1%
18.8%±3.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
Newburgh and Bowdoinham 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%
21.4%±6.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
21.4%±2.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Bowdoinham 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%
43.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
29.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
0.7%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.3%±2.7Highest
ME: 5.8%
Newburgh 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
$108,479±$21kHighest
45% above ME
$76,750±$10k
about the ME average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,600±$33kLowest
21% below ME
$405,500±$105kHighest
37% above ME
$244,600±$20k
18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82Highest
3% below ME
—
$950±$219Lowest
17% below ME
Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$2,958
about the ME average
$2,748Lowest
9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100
ME: 48.4%
100%±19.4Highest
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±13.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Bowdoinham 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%
13.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
11.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
93.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1985Lowest
8 yrs newer than ME
1985Lowest
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
23% above ME
27 minLowest
10% above ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
22%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.4%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Bowdoinham and Appleton 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 — #73 of 133 in ME —
School district Appleton Public Schools RSU 75/MSAD 75 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.