Compare towns
Appleton vs Chelsea vs Windsor
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%).
Chelsea has the highest household income ($85k).
Windsor has the most homeowners (89.1%).
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 | Chelsea | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,823Highest |
2,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.2±3.6Lowest 6% below ME |
43.5±8 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Windsor 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% |
23.3%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chelsea and Windsor 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% |
22.6%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Chelsea 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% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Chelsea 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 |
$85,471±$10kHighest 14% above ME |
$63,178±$5k 15% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$182,300±$37kLowest 39% below ME |
$228,800±$22k 23% below ME |
| Appleton and Windsor 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 |
$1,373±$90Highest 21% above ME |
$1,265±$400 11% above ME |
| Chelsea and Windsor 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 |
$2,313 24% below ME |
$2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
15%±19.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Windsor 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% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
36 minHighest 48% above ME |
36 min 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Windsor 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 | — | #93 of 133 in ME | #44 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 12 | RSU 12 |
| 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.