Compare towns
Appleton vs Buxton vs Liberty vs Union
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%).
Buxton has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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.
| Measure | Appleton | Buxton | Liberty | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
8,512Highest |
969Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Buxton 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% |
16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Liberty 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% |
19.2%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
30.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Buxton 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 |
$100,144±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Buxton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$356,800±$21kHighest 20% above ME |
$229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Buxton and Union 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 |
$3,422 13% above ME |
$2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Liberty 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 | — | #104 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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.