What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

East Machias has the most kids (23.3% 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.

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

Measure	Appleton	East Machias
People
Population	1,360Highest	1,223Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME	42.8±2.9Lowest 4% below ME
	Appleton and East Machias 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%	23.3%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%	19.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and East Machias 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%	33.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	East Machias 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	$57,589±$10kHighest 23% below ME
	East Machias 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	$210,800±$23kLowest 29% below ME
	Appleton and East Machias 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	$907±$566Lowest 20% below ME
	Appleton and East Machias 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	$1,836Lowest 40% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	56.4%±40.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and East Machias 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%	15.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	18 minLowest 28% below ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	4.1%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	East Machias 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.