Compare towns
Appleton vs Columbia
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 expensive homes ($236k median).
Columbia has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.9±6.4Lowest 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Columbia 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% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Columbia 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% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Appleton 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 |
$56,667±$15kHighest 24% below ME |
| Columbia and Appleton 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 |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$894±$162Lowest 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Columbia 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 |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Columbia 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% |
13.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Columbia 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 |
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.