Compare towns

Appleton vs Carmel vs Glenburn

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%).
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Glenburn has the highest household income ($97k).

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.

MeasureAppletonCarmelGlenburn
People
Population
1,360Lowest
2,941
4,737Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2.6%
ME: +2.6%
+1.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
46.4±4.5Lowest
4% above ME
47.7±4.4
6% above ME
Appleton and Glenburn 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%
18.6%±4.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.9%±6.4
ME: 18.1%
Carmel and Glenburn 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%
16.5%±5
ME: 22.4%
12%±3.8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Carmel 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%
17.2%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
20.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.9%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.4%±3.4
ME: 5.8%
Appleton and Glenburn 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
$82,188±$22k
10% above ME
$97,474±$26kHighest
30% above ME
Glenburn and Carmel 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
$256,800±$37k
13% below ME
$276,900±$49kHighest
7% below ME
Glenburn and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82Lowest
3% below ME
$1,276±$187Highest
12% above ME
$1,143±$226
about the ME average
Carmel and Glenburn 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
$2,662Lowest
12% below ME
$3,287
8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±38.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
72.8%±31
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Glenburn 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%
13.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
87.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Lowest
11 yrs newer than ME
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
1989
12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
23% above ME
25 minLowest
about the ME average
30 min
21% above ME
Work from home
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.5%±4.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.2%±5.1
ME: 15.9%
Appleton and Glenburn 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 — #77 of 133 in ME #39 of 133 in ME
School district Appleton Public Schools RSU 87/MSAD 23 Glenburn 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

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.