Compare towns
Appleton vs Ira vs Sandgate 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 kids (15.3% under 18).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Searsmont has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Ira | Sandgate | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
381Lowest |
435 |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$87,000±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Searsmont and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Searsmont and Ira 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. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
— | $940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$2,788 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Searsmont 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 |
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.