Compare towns
Appleton vs Dummer vs Pittston vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dummer has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Pittston has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Dummer | Pittston | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
299Lowest |
3,093Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummer and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Dummer 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Pittston 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 34% below U.S. |
$91,250±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$242,200±$51k 27% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Searsmont and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,080±$593 24% below U.S. |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,898 7% below U.S. |
$1,909Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$2,788 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Searsmont and Appleton 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 | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 71 |
| 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.