Compare towns

Appleton vs Carthage vs Weld

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Carthage has the most affordable homes ($144k median).
Weld has the most people working from home (15.6%).

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.

MeasureAppletonCarthageWeld
People
Population
1,360Highest
845
459Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-9.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
49.2±7.4
10% above ME
42.8±10.9Lowest
4% below ME
64±6.7Highest
43% above ME
Kids under 18
15.3%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
13.1%±2.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
17.9%±4.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
Weld and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
10.7%±0.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
44.4%±12.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
Weld and Appleton 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%
13.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
42.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
2%±1.2
ME: 5.8%
1.7%±2.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Appleton and Carthage 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
$79,107±$18kHighest
6% above ME
$62,083±$11k
17% below ME
Carthage and Weld 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
$144,300±$41kLowest
51% below ME
$268,600±$17kHighest
9% below ME
Weld 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
$811±$262Lowest
29% below ME
—
Appleton and Carthage 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
$1,239Lowest
59% below ME
$1,308
57% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±88Lowest
ME: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Carthage 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%
3.6%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.5%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.1%
ME: 74.3%
93.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
11 yrs newer than ME
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1951Lowest
26 yrs older 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%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
10%±7.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
15.6%±8.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
Weld 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 — —
High school 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.