Compare towns
Appleton vs Byron vs Newburgh vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Byron has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Newburgh has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Sullivan has the most people working from home (12.6%).
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 | Byron | Newburgh | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
174Lowest |
1,475Highest |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
58.9±12.3Highest 31% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
| Byron and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
1.1%±16.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Newburgh and Sullivan 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% |
14.4%±13.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Sullivan 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% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0%±8.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Newburgh 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 |
$90,417±$53kHighest 21% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
| Byron 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±$33k 21% below ME |
$122,700±$61kLowest 59% below ME |
$244,600±$20kHighest 18% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
| Newburgh and Appleton 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 |
— | $950±$219 17% below ME |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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 |
$1,301Lowest 57% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
97.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
43 minHighest 74% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sullivan 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 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.


