Compare towns
Appleton vs Exeter vs Prospect
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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% 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 | Exeter | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,093 |
923Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
| Exeter 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 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Appleton 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
| Exeter and Prospect 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
| Appleton and Prospect 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 |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
| Prospect and Appleton 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school 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.