Compare towns
Appleton vs Exeter vs Stetson vs Searsmont
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).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Stetson | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,093Lowest |
1,151 |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
44.5±9.8 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% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson 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% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 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% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont 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 |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
| Searsmont and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Searsmont and Appleton 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 |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
$940±$311 17% below ME |
| Appleton and Exeter 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 |
$1,962 35% below ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Stetson 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.