Compare towns
Appleton vs Calais 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%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Calais | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Calais 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% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Calais 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. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Calais 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. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$284,000±$31k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Calais and Appleton 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. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Calais 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.