Compare towns
Appleton vs Bradley vs Stetson
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%).
Bradley has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Stetson has the most homeowners (87.9%).
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 | Bradley | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,645Highest |
1,151Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.6±9.7 5% below ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Bradley 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% |
21.9%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Bradley 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% |
19.5%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Bradley 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% |
22.7% ME: 36.2% |
19.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Stetson 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 |
$76,667±$28kHighest about the ME average |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Bradley and Stetson 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 |
$201,800±$37kLowest 32% below ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
| Appleton and Stetson 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 |
$1,088±$325 4% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Appleton and Bradley 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 |
$1,946Lowest 36% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±22.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Stetson 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% |
4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bradley 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 34 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.