Compare towns
Appleton vs Dixmont vs Etna
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%).
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Etna has the most kids (20% 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 | Dixmont | Etna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,207Lowest |
1,252 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
41.9±3.4Lowest 6% below ME |
| Dixmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
20%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Etna and Dixmont 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% |
19.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Dixmont 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% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Dixmont 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 |
$75,952±$14kHighest about the ME average |
$72,379±$16k 3% below ME |
| Dixmont and Etna 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 |
$190,700±$22k 36% below ME |
$183,000±$49kLowest 38% below ME |
| Appleton and Dixmont 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 |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,745 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 40% above ME |
28 minLowest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont 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 | RSU 19 | — |
| 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.