Compare towns
Appleton vs Castle Hill vs Dedham
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).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Castle Hill | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
281Lowest |
1,656Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Castle Hill 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% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Dedham 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 |
$54,250±$14k 27% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$950±$574Lowest 17% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Castle Hill 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% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school 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.