Compare towns

Appleton vs Edgecomb vs Pittston

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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Edgecomb has the most expensive homes ($348k median).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

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.

MeasureAppletonEdgecombPittston
People
Population
1,360
1,251Lowest
3,093Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
-4.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
41±8.8Lowest
8% below ME
41.4±5.9
8% below ME
Appleton and Pittston 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%
16.9%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
17.2%±7.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
Pittston and Edgecomb 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%
24.5%±7.2
ME: 22.4%
18.5%±6.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Edgecomb 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%
39.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
26.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
8%±6.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
5.4%±4.1
ME: 5.8%
Edgecomb 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
28% below ME
$108,750±$18kHighest
46% above ME
$86,614±$18k
16% above ME
Edgecomb and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,600±$33kLowest
21% below ME
$348,400±$36kHighest
17% above ME
$238,700±$66k
20% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82Highest
3% below ME
—
$1,080±$593Lowest
5% below ME
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
18% above ME
$3,577
18% above ME
$1,909Lowest
37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
21.1%±43.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
57.6%±34.6
ME: 48.4%
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%
ME: 10.7%
5.6%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
90.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1981Lowest
4 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
23% above ME
22 minLowest
10% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
12.3%±3.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
3.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Edgecomb 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 Edgecomb Public Schools RSU 11/MSAD 11
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

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.