Compare towns
Appleton vs Dixmont vs Jackson
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,207 |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% 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% |
17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Jackson 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% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
24.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
| Dixmont and Jackson 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±$22kLowest 36% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Dixmont 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% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest 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 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 min 40% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont and Jackson 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.