Compare towns
Appleton vs Brookline vs Dummerston vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Searsmont has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Brookline | Dummerston | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
531Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont 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 34% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$284,000±$31k 15% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 71 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.