What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Appleton	Buckfield
People
Population	1,360Lowest	2,403Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME	37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME
	Appleton and Buckfield 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%	25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Buckfield and Appleton 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%	13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Buckfield 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	$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME
	Buckfield and Appleton 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	$227,700±$18kLowest 23% below ME
	Appleton and Buckfield 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	$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$2,860Lowest 6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	94.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 23% above ME	31 minHighest 25% above ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.6%±12.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Buckfield 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 10
High school in town	None in town	Buckfield Jr-Sr High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.