Compare towns
Appleton vs Brownfield vs Hope 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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Brownfield | Hope | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,830Highest |
1,748 |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Hope 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% |
18.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
25.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 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 |
$60,889±$5k 19% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Hope and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$287,500±$36k 3% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
| Brownfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$2,976 about the ME average |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,748Lowest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.8%±43.7 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brownfield 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
44 minHighest 80% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 72/MSAD 72 | Hope Public Schools | — |
| 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.