What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Cherryfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Appleton	Cherryfield
People
Population	1,360Highest	809Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME	58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME
	Cherryfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%	11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Appleton and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Cherryfield 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,618±$19kHighest 28% below ME	$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME
	Appleton and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME	$195,800±$53kLowest 34% below ME
	Appleton and Cherryfield 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	$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$1,950Lowest 36% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	60.5%±17.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	26.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	30 minLowest 22% above ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cherryfield 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	Cherryfield Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.